A dual-mode probe based on AIE and TICT effects for the detection of the hypochlorite anion and its bioimaging in living cells.

Based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) mechanisms, a fluorescent probe SWJT-12 for the detection of ClO ^- was designed by using the CN bond as a reactive group. This synthesized probe can react with ClO ^- in a high aqueous phase, and it shows a large Stokes shift (144 nm) and low biological toxicity. Its limit of detection was calculated to be 0.28 μM. Furthermore, SWJT-12 was successfully used for ratiometric imaging of the exogenous hypochlorite anion in living cells.