A lysosome-targeting viscosity-sensitive fluorescent probe based on a novel functionalised near-infrared xanthene-indolium dye and its application in living cells

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. B, Materials for biology and medicine Vol. 8; no. 38; pp. 8838 - 8844
• Main Authors: Liu, Chang, Zhao, Tong, He, Song, Zhao, Liancheng, Zeng, Xianshun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 07.10.2020
• Subjects: Biological activity; Biomonitoring; Cells (biology); Confocal microscopy; Fluorescence; fluorescent dyes; Fluorescent Dyes - chemical synthesis; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; Fluorescent indicators; Glycerol; HeLa Cells; Humans; I.R. radiation; indoles; Indoles - chemical synthesis; Indoles - chemistry; Lysosomes; Lysosomes - chemistry; Lysosomes - metabolism; Microscopy, Confocal - methods; Microscopy, Fluorescence - methods; Morphology; near infrared radiation; Organoselenium Compounds - chemical synthesis; Organoselenium Compounds - chemistry; Temporal resolution; Viscosity; Xanthene; xanthenes; Xanthenes - chemical synthesis; Xanthenes - chemistry
• ISSN: 2050-750X; 2050-7518; 2050-7518
• DOI: 10.1039/d0tb01329c

The viscosity of lysosomes plays a significant role in modulating biological processes and reflects the status and function of this kind of organelle, e.g. , locations, morphologies, and components. Herein, we constructed a novel near-infrared (NIR) lysosome-targeting viscosity probe, Lyso-cy , for monitoring viscosity changes in biological systems. The Lyso-cy probe showed very strong fluorescence emission at around 710 nm in viscous media. The fluorescence intensity of Lyso-cy increased 122-fold from when in water to when in 95% glycerol. Moreover, Lyso-cy proved to be an ideal lysosome-targeting tracer for monitoring fluctuations in the viscosity of a living cell with high spatial and temporal resolution under laser confocal microscopy. The viscosity of lysosomes plays a significant role in modulating biological processes and reflects the status and function of this kind of organelle, e.g. , locations, morphologies, and components.