Cyclopropyl Substituents Transform the Viscosity-Sensitive BODIPY Molecular Rotor into a Temperature Sensor

Aurimas Vyšniauskas, Bethan Cornell, Peter S. Sherin, Karolina Maleckaite, Marketa Kubankova, Maria Angeles Izquierdo, Thanh Truc Vu, Yulia A. Volkova, Ekaterina M. Budynina, Carla Molteni, Marina K. Kuimova

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A quantitative fluorescent probe that responds to changes in temperature is highly desirable for studies of biological environments, particularly in cellulo. Here, we report new cell-permeable fluorescence probes based on the BODIPY moiety that respond to environmental temperature. The new probes were developed on the basis of a well-established BODIPY-based viscosity probe by functionalization with cyclopropyl substituents at α and β positions of the BODIPY core. In contrast to the parent BODIPY fluorophore, α-cyclopropyl-substituted fluorophore displays temperature-dependent time-resolved fluorescence decays showing greatly diminished viscosity dependence, making it an attractive sensor to be used with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). We performed theoretical calculations that help rationalize the effect of the cyclopropyl substituents on the photophysical behavior of the new BODIPYs. In summary, we designed an attractive new quantitative FLIM-based temperature probe that can be used for temperature sensing in live cells.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2158-2167
Number of pages10
JournalACS Sensors
Volume6
Issue number6
Early online date1 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Jun 2021

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