Recent advances in small molecule fluorescent probes for simultaneous imaging of two bioactive molecules in live cells and in vivo

The interrelationships and synergistic regulations of bioactive molecules play pivotal roles in physiological and pathological processes involved in the initiation and development of some diseases,such as cancer and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.Therefore,the simultaneous,accurate and timely detection of two bioactive molecules is crucial to explore their roles and pathological mechanisms in related diseases.Fluorescence imaging associated with small molecular probes has been widely used in the imaging of bioactive molecules in living cells and in vivo due to its excellent performances,including high sensitivity and selectivity,noninvasive properties,real-time and high spatial temporal resolution.Single organic molecule fluorescent probes have been successively developed to simultaneously monitor two biomolecules to uncover their synergistic relationships in living systems.Hence,in this review,we focus on summarizing the design strategies,classifications,and bioimaging applications of dual-response fluorescent probes over the past decade.Furthermore,future research directions in this field are proposed.

Rare-Earth Metal Chlorides Catalyzed One-pot Syntheses of Quinolines under Solvent-free Microwave Irradiation Conditions

Under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions, rare-earth metal chlorides （RECl3） have been efficient catalysts for one-pot synthesis of quinoline derivatives to give products in good to excellent yields through the mul- ti-component reactions of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes. The rare-earth metal chlorides can be recycled for six times without notable loss of catalytic activities. This new synthetic approach has prominent features of a short re- action time, high yields of products, operational simplicity, broad substrate scopes, environmentally friendly prop- erty and commercially available catalysts. It extends the applications of rare-earth metal compounds as catalysts in organic synthesis.

Visualization of endoplasmic reticulum viscosity in the liver of mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by a near-infrared fluorescence probe

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)can cause serious liver damage.Early diagnosis and effective treatment of NAFLD can greatly improve treatment rates.The initiation and development of NAFLD has been closely linked to endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress,which might cause ER viscosity variations.Therefore,if the internal relationship between ER viscosity and NAFLD is clarified,an effective approach for early diagnosis may result.Herein,we fabricated a novel near-infrared(NIR)fluorescence imaging probe,Er-V,for monitoring ER viscosity through a molecular rotor strategy.Er-V exhibited a strong NIR fluorescence signal(at 626 nm)when the environmental viscosity hindered the rotation of the malononitrile group.Using Er-V,we successfully observed a significant enhancement in viscosity in the liver of mice with NAFLD.Therefore,this imaging method based on Er-V is expected to provide a new approach for early detection and diagnosis of NAFLD.