Fluorescent TICT\nProbe for Precise Monitoring of Cellular\nLipid Droplets

Lipid droplets (LD) are crucial in pathological processes\nor conditions\nassociated with abnormal lipid metabolism, such as obesity, diabetes,\natherosclerosis, fatty liver diseases, and cancers. Cancer cells frequently\ncontain elevated levels of nonpolar lipid droplets (LDs), serving\nas energy reserves. The proliferation of LDs, accompanied by an increase\nin viscosity, is a characteristic feature of cancer cells that prompted\nus to devise a fluorescent sensor for LD detection at physiological\npH. However, developing fluorescent LD-specific probes with high polarity\nsensitivity and deep tissue/cell imaging capability remains challenging.\nTherefore, we present a TICT probe with strong solvatochromism, superior\nresponse to viscosity, microenvironment sensitivity, and a large Stokes\nshift. Additionally, it offers numerous advantages, including high\nsensitivity, specificity, high fluorescence quantum yield, and remarkable\nspatial resolution, which enables precise monitoring of lipid droplets\n(LD). Thus, this probe can effectively monitor alterations in viscosity\nand polarity of lipid droplet expression in live cells, thereby offering\nthe potential for visualizing physiological abnormalities or pathological\nconditions. The probe offers excellent lipid droplet targeting and\nalso sensitively monitors the oleic-acid-mediated lipid droplet accumulation\nand immunosuppressant/inflammatory drugs in HeLa cells.