Development of a near-infrared fluorescence probe for hypochlorous acid based on the phenyl-induced twisted intramolecular charge transfer (p-TICT) mechanism

Abstract

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probes for hypochlorous acid (HClO) are powerful tools for investigating various biological phenomena because of their low autofluorescence, high tissue penetration and usefulness for multicolour imaging. Here we present a rational probe design strategy based on the phenyl-induced twisted intramolecular charge transfer (p-TICT) mechanism and apply it to develop a NIR fluorescence probe for HClO, N-Phenol SiR1. This probe was applied for live-cell fluorescence imaging multicolor (4 colors), occupying the NIR color window.