Exploring viscosity, polarity and temperature sensitivity of BODIPY-based molecular rotors
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Microviscosity is a key parameter controlling the rate of diffusion and reactions on the microscale. One of the most convenient tools for measuring microviscosity is by fluorescent viscosity sensors termed ‘molecular rotors’. BODIPY-based molecular rotors in particular proved extremely useful in combination with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, for providing quantitative viscosity maps of living cells as well as measuring dynamic changes in viscosity over time. In this work, we investigate several new BODIPY-based molecular rotors with the aim of improving on the current viscosity sensing capabilities and understanding how the structure of the fluorophore is related to its function. We demonstrate that due to subtle structural changes, BODIPY-based molecular rotors may become sensitive to temperature and polarity of their environment, as well as to viscosity, and provide a photophysical model explaining the nature of this sensitivity. Our data suggests that a thorough understanding of the photophysics of any new molecular rotor, in environments of different viscosity, temperature and polarity, is a must before moving on to applications in viscosity sensing.
Date Issued
2017-07-10
Date Acceptance
2017-07-06
ISSN
1463-9084
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
25252
End Page
25259
Journal / Book Title
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume
19
Copyright Statement
Open Access Article. Published on 10 July 2017. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Commission of the European Communities
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/I003983/1
EP/K030760/1
302441
n/a
Subjects
02 Physical Sciences
03 Chemical Sciences
Chemical Physics
Publication Status
Published