A systematic study on the discrepancy of fluorescence properties between in solutions and in cells: super-bright, environment-insensitive benzocoumarin dyes

Abstract

The benzocoumarin dyes fluoresce negligibly in aqueous media but very strongly in cells, whereas representative conventional dyes display contrasting behaviour; the distinct emission behaviour of the fluorophores in organic solutions, in aqueous media, and in cell convinces the uniqueness of the cellular environment. Thein cellulosuperbright benzocoumarins also reveal an environment-insensitive emission behaviour, which is required for the reliable analysisviaratiometric imaging.