Supramolecular assembly of TPE‐based glycoclusters with dicyanomethylene‐4H‐pyran (DM) fluorescent probes improve their properties for peroxynitrite sensing and cell imaging

Two red-emitting dicyanomethylene-4 H- pyran (DM) based fluorescent probes were designed and used for peroxynitrite (ONOO - ) detection. Nevertheless, the aggregation-caused quenching effect diminished the fluorescence and restricted their further applications. To overcome this problem, tetraphenylethylene (TPE) based glycoclusters were used to self-assemble with these DM probes to obtain supramolecular water-soluble glyco-dots. This self-assembly strategy enhanced the fluorescence intensity, leading to an enhanced selectivity and activity of the resulting glyco-dot comparing to DM probes alone in PBS buffer. The glyco-dots also exhibited better results during fluorescence sensing of intracellular ONOO - than the probes alone, thereby offering scope for the development of other similar supramolecular glyco-systems for chemical biological studies.