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Dual‐Functionalisation of Fluorophores for the Preparation of Targeted and Selective Probes
Author(s) -
Trinh Natalie,
Jolliffe Katrina A.,
New Elizabeth J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202007673
Subject(s) - fluorophore , nanotechnology , fluorescence , chemistry , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , fluorescence microscope , biophysics , molecular imaging , materials science , biology , physics , quantum mechanics , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo
A key current challenge in biological research is the elucidation of the that roles chemicals and chemical reactions play in cellular function and dysfunction. Of the available cellular imaging techniques, fluorescence imaging offers a balance between sensitivity and resolution, enabling the cost‐effective and rapid visualisation of model biological systems. Importantly, the use of responsive fluorescent probes in conjunction with ever‐advancing microscopy and flow cytometry techniques enables the visualisation, with high spatiotemporal resolution, of both specific chemical species and chemical reactions in living cells. Ideal responsive fluorescent probes are those that contain a fluorophore tethered to both a sensing unit, to ensure selectivity of response, and a targeting group, to control the sub‐cellular localisation of the probe. To date, probes that are both targeted and selective are relatively rare and most localised probes are discovered serendipitously rather than by design. A challenge in this field is therefore the identification of suitable fluorophore scaffolds that can be readily attached to both sensing and targeting groups. Here we review current strategies for dual‐functionalisation of fluorophores, highlighting key examples of targeted, responsive probes.