A Photostable AIE Luminogen for Specific Mitochondrial Imaging and Tracking

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 135; no. 1; pp. 62 - 65
• Main Authors: Leung, Chris Wai Tung, Hong, Yuning, Chen, Sijie, Zhao, Engui, Lam, Jacky Wing Yip, Tang, Ben Zhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 09.01.2013
• Subjects: apoptosis; Ethylenes - chemistry; fluorescent dyes; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; HeLa Cells; Humans; image analysis; mitochondria; Mitochondria - chemistry; Molecular Structure; Organophosphorus Compounds - chemistry; Photochemical Processes; photostability
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja310324q

Tracking the dynamics of mitochondrial morphology has attracted much research interest because of its involvement in early stage apoptosis and degenerative conditions. To follow this process, highly specific and photostable fluorescent probes are in demand. Commercially available mitochondria trackers, however, suffer from poor photostability. To overcome this limitation, we have designed and synthesized a fluorescent agent, tetraphenylethene-triphenylphosphonium (TPE-TPP), for mitochondrial imaging. Inherent from the mitochondrial-targeting ability of TPP groups and the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics of the TPE core, TPE-TPP possesses high specificity to mitochondria, superior photostability, and appreciable tolerance to environmental change, allowing imaging and tracking of the mitochondrial morphological changes in a long period of time.