A hemicyanine-based fluorescent probe for ratiometric detection of ClO- and turn-on detection of viscosity and its imaging application in mitochondria of living cells and zebrafish

A water-soluble fluorescent probe 1 based on chromene-hemicyanine has been developed, that exhibits ratiometric fluorescent response toward hypochlorite (ClO-) with the LOD (0.082 μM), and "turn-on" response to viscosity changes. Due to low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility, probe 1 used to monitor hypochlorous acid and viscosity in mitochondria of living cells and zebrafish.