A dual functional fluorogenic probe for visualization of intracellular pH and formaldehyde with distinct fluorescence signals

Abstract

In this study, a single fluorescent probe (DPFP) containing a 1,8-naphthalimide dye and a homoallylamino group for imaging pH and formaldehyde (FA) has been developed that exhibits significant blue fluorescence (λ_em at 455 nm) under acidic pH conditions (pH < 7.0) and green fluorescence (λ_em at 555 nm) in the presence of FA, respectively. Furthermore, probe DPFP was successfully applied to image acidic lysosomes and exogenous or endogenous FA in living HeLa cells.