Exploring NIR Aza-BODIPY-Based Polarity Sensitive Probes with ON-and-OFF Fluorescence Switching in Pluronic Nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: Because of their deep penetration capability in tissue, red or near infrared (NIR) fluorophores attract much attention in bio-optical imaging. Among these fluorophores, the ones that respond to the immediate microenvironment (i.e., temperature, polarity, pH, viscosity, hypoxia, etc.) are highly desirable. We studied the response of six NIR aza-BODIPY-based and structurally similar fluorophores to polarity and viscosity for incorporation inside Pluronic nanoparticles as switchable fluorescent probes (SFPs). Based on our results, all of these fluorophores were moderately to strongly sensitive to the polarity of the microenvironment. We concluded that attaching amine groups to the fluorophore is not necessary for having strong polarity sensitive probes. We further studied the response of the

SUBMITTER: Saremi B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7183047 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature