This Account describes the origins, features, importance, and trends of the use of fluorescent small-molecule 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) derivatives as a new class of bioprobes applied to bioimaging analyses of several (live and fixed) cell types. BTDs have been successfully used as probes for a plethora of biological analyses for only a few years, and the impressive responses obtained by using this important class of heterocycle are fostering the development of new fluorescent BTDs and expanding the biological applications of such derivatives. The first use of a fluorescent small-molecule BTD derivative as a selective cellular probe dates back to 2010, and since then impressive advances have been described by us and others. The well-known limitations of classical scaffolds urged the development of new classes of bioprobes. Although great developments have been achieved by using classical scaffolds such as coumarins, BODIPYs, fluoresceins, rhodamines, cyanines, and phenoxazines, there is still much to be done, and BTDs aim to succeed where these dyes have shown their limitations. Important organelles and cell components such as nuclear DNA, mitochondria, lipid droplets, and others have already been successfully labeled by fluorescent small-molecule BTD derivatives. New technological systems that use BTDs as the fluorophores for bioimaging experiments have been described in recent scientific literature. The successful application of BTDs as selective bioprobes has led some groups to explore their potential for use in studying membrane pores or tumor cells under hypoxic conditions. Finally, BTDs have also been used as fluorescent tags to investigate the action mechanism of some antitumor compounds. The attractive photophysical data typically observed for π-extended BTD derivatives is fostering interest in the use of this new class of bioprobes. Large Stokes shifts, large molar extinction coefficients, high quantum yields, high stability when stored in solution or as pure solids, no fading even after long periods of irradiation, bright emissions with no blinking, good signal-to-noise ratios, efficiency to transpose the cell membrane, and irradiation preferentially in the visible-light region are just some features noted by using BTDs. As the pioneering group in the use of fluorescent small-molecule BTDs for bioimaging purposes, we feel pleased to share our experience, results, advances, and personal perspectives with the readers of this Account. The readers will clearly note the huge advantages of using fluorescent BTDs over classical scaffolds, and hopefully they will be inspired and motivated to further BTD technology in the fields of molecular and cellular biology.

A series of new rationale designed 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) fluorescent derivatives has been synthesized and applied for cellular selective staining of cancer cells in cell-imaging experiments. Four new synthesized BTD derivatives showed only poor or reasonable cellular selection, but with excellent fluorescence intensity and almost no background signal emitting at the blue or green channels. The knowledge gained by analysing their molecular architecture, however, allowed the planning and synthesis of a fluorescent BTD, which was then successfully tested and showed superior mitochondrial selection with outstanding results in bioimaging experiments in living cells. The new marker (named Splendor) was then compared with the commercially available MitoTracker Red (also through co-staining experiments) and showed far better mitochondrial selection, fluorescence intensity and chemical stability. Mitochondrial imaging and tracking (dynamic changes) was possible using Splendor during the whole cellular division cycle. DFT calculations were performed to offer insights into the origin of the chemical- and photostability of BTD derivatives. In addition, molecular docking calculations hint at a potential molecular target for the BTD derivatives in the mitochondrial protein adenine nucleotide translocase, which may explain the mitochondrial selectivity of Splendor versus the other four BTD derivatives.

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Two new benzothiadiazole-triazole-linked lapachone derivatives were designed, synthesized and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Their photophysical properties were also investigated.Theoretical calculations (DFT), based on the molecular design of the new compounds, allowed a better understanding of the derivatives' stability and behaviour, especially in the excited state. This manuscript also describes a discussion on the molecular architecture which is based on two substitutions at positions 4-and 7-of the important 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) core. One side is replaced by a group capable of performing an ESIPT (excited-state intramolecular proton transfer) stabilizing process, and the other side is substituted by a triazole-containing group. This triazole ring acts as the linker between the BTD core and a group of known antitumoral activity i.e. a nor-b-lapachone derivative. These novel fluorescent compounds had their biological activities evaluated against twenty cancer cell lines and three normal cells with promising results. Finally, due to their interesting photophysical properties and good fluorescence, bioimaging experiments were conducted, and these dyes were tested as fluorescent cell-imaging probes, thus showing their preferable cellular location in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells (a breast-invasive cancer-cell lineage).

Novos sensores planejados fluorescentes derivados do núcleo 2,1,3-benzotiadiazola foram sintetizados, caracterizados e aplicados como marcadores celulares de imageamento em vivo onde se observou exclusivamente preferência por mitocôndrias em modelos celulares de câncer de mama (MCF-7). A eficiência destes novos marcadores se mostrou muito superior ao corante comercial MitoTracker ® Red. Experimentos celulares e in vitro permitiram uma compreensão mais profunda da relação existente entre a arquitetura molecular planejada dos novos corantes e a seletividade celular observada. Novel designed 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole fluorescent probes were synthesized, characterized and applied as live cell fluorescence imaging probe staining only mitochondria in mammalian cancer cell lines (MCF-7). The efficiency of these new probes was found to be much superior to that of the commercially available MitoTracker ® Red. Cellular and in vitro experiments allowed better understanding of the relationship between the planned molecular architecture of the new dyes and the observed cellular selectivity.

International audienceRecently, the spectroscopic signatures of amino-substituted benzothiadiazoles were investigated by complementary experimental and theoretical approaches [Neto et al., RSC Adv., 2012, 2, 1524-1532]. It was concluded that these molecules were exhibiting excited-state intramolecular proton transfer. In this communication, we revisit these results using a state-of-the-art time-dependent density functional theory approach which provides a complete explanation to the spectroscopic observations

Design, synthesis, molecular architecture and the unexpected behavior of fluorescent benzothiadiazole for selective mitochondrial and plasma membrane staining are investigated.