A multidimensional quantitative fluorescent probe for high-fidelity monitoring of the polarity change in lysosomes during autophagy

Abstract

The current majority of fluorescent probes are primarily based on fluorescence imaging which relies on single fluorescence emission intensity, and the complex intracellular biological environment dramatically interferes with the accuracy of the assay. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) can take advantage of the long-life characteristics of fluorescent probes for background-free optical analysis imaging. However, it places higher demands on designing and preparing of optical probes. An environment-sensitive near-infrared (NIR) probe, TPA-DCPP NPs, was prepared to achieve multidimensional quantification (confocal fluorescence intensity, in situ emission, and lifetime imaging) of intracellular polarity enabling accurate cancer cell discrimination and autophagy monitoring, which is expected to provide ideas for developing probes realizing detect targets precisely in complex biosystems.