Design and synthesis of an AIEgen with multiple functions: Solvatochromism, chromism, lipid droplet imaging

Developing an environment-sensitive AIEgen with multi-functions is desirable but remaining significant challenge. In this work, a novel donor-π-acceptor structural AIEgen containing tetraphenylethene, thiophene and aldehyde moieties (TPETA) was designed and synthesized through convenient synthetic routes. TPETA exhibited an obvious solvatochromism with distinct bathochromic emission shift as a function of the solvent polarity ranged from 518 to 655 nm. The piezo-chromism by grinding−fuming cycle and off−on emission process through fuming with acid and ammonia vapor were observed. Moreover, hydrophobic TPETA is enriched into lipophilic lipid droplets (LDs), TPETA could specifically stain LDs in live HeLa cells with high signal-to-noise. The monitoring dynamic movements of LDs, real-time and long-time tracking of LDs were achieved. TPETA could also be applied for in vivo imaging in Zebrafish.