Imaging intracellular zinc by stimulated Raman scattering microscopy with a small molecule vibrational probe.

ABSTRACT: Advanced Raman-based techniques, particularly stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, have emerged as valuable bioimaging tools. But advances in the development of the chemical toolbox required for detection of biologically relevant species, including metals, has lagged the rapid advances in instrumentation. To date, few responsive probes for dynamic detection of transient and low abundance species have been developed. We describe herein the design and application of CSZin, a small molecule vibrational probe for detection of Zn²⁺ in biological contexts. The probe, a spiropyran design with a strategically positioned nitrile, undergoes a shift in the stretching frequency of the nitrile group and an increase in the SRS intensity in response to metal-induced opening of the spi

SUBMITTER: El Khoury E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12599042 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature