A ratiometric fluorescent sensor for pH fluctuation and its application in living cells with low dark toxicity

It is highly demanded and challenging to develop small-molecular fluorescent sensors for the ratiometric detection of pH fluctuation. A ratiometric fluorescent pH sensor was constructed by integrating a pH-sensitive fluorophore with a pH-insensitive hemicyanine group. Its linear and reversible ratiometric fluorescent response from pH 7.0 to 8.8 and 6.0 to 9.0 respectively makes this sensor suitable for the practical tracking of pH fluctuation in live cells. With this sensor, stimulated pH fluctuation has been successfully tracked in a ratiometric manner via fluorescence imaging with low dark toxicity.