Aggregation‐Induced Emission Active Probe for Light‐Up Detection of Anionic Surfactants and Wash‐Free Bacterial Imaging

Abstract

Anionic surfactants are widely used in daily life and industries, but their residues can cause serious damage to the environment. The current detection methods for anionic surfactants suffer from various limitations and a new detection strategy is highly desirable. Based on 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole fluorogen with aggregation-induced emission characteristics, we have developed a fluorescent probe HBT-C18 for selective and sensitive detection of anionic surfactants. By in situ formation of catanionic aggregates or micelles with anionic surfactants, the emission intensity of the HBT-C18 probe can increase with increasing keto/enol emission ratio through restriction of intramolecular motion and excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer mechanisms. The probe can also be used for wash-free imaging of bacteria enveloped by a negatively charged outer membrane. The results of this study provide a new strategy for sensitive detection of anionic surfactants and wash-free bacterial imaging.

In situ generation of photoactivatable aggregation-induced emission probes for organelle-specific imaging

“…The AIE properties of compounds 4 can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of restriction of intramolecular motion (RIM) and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms. 13 The excellent “keto” emission efficiency of compounds 4 in the aggregate state with large Stokes shifts (up to 208 nm) would greatly favor their bio-imaging applications.…”

Recent Advances in Catanionic Mixtures

“…Gao et al proposed a new method for determination of anionic surfactants based on in situ formation of catanionic aggregates in the presence of amphiphilic 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) benzothiazolefluorogen probe [131]. Described approach enables quantitative determination of low anionic surfactant concentrations and can be extended to wash-free imaging of bacteria.…”

p‐Quaterphenylene as an Aggregation‐Induced Emission Fluorogen in Supramolecular Organogels and Fluorescent Sensors

“…Therefore, AIE fluorophores are ideal buildingb locks to construct fluorescentm aterials and AIEbased probes. [32,38] For instance, very recently,T ang and coworkers attached tetraphenylethene (TPE, at ypical AIE fluorophore) as ah ydrophobic pendant on chitosan to work as an in situ probe for the gelation process. The enhancedf luorescence of aggregated TPEs provided essential information for ad eeper insightinto the gelation mechanism.…”