Two-photon imaging is a powerful technique in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics, offering deeper tissue penetration and reduced photodamage. The most commonly used two-photon dyes are electron donor-acceptor (D–A) type molecules, but their application is often hindered by solvation quenching effects, leading to reduced fluorescence efficiency.

To overcome this challenge, the Zhang Xiaobing-Yuan Lin research group at Hunan University developed a novel hydrogen-bond-induced enhanced emission (HIEE) strategy. This approach minimizes the impact of solvation quenching and enhances fluorescence performance, leading to the creation of a new two-photon fluorescent dye with an anti-solvation effect—TPCs fluorescent dye.

Figure 1 A) Structures of TPC1–3. B) Normalized fluorescence intensities of Acedan-NH₂ , Ans, Naph-NH₂ , and TPC1–3 (5 mm) in different solvents DCM=CH₂Cl₂ . C),D) Fluorescent photographs of TPC3 and Acedan-NH₂ (5 mm) in MeCN–PBS buffer mixtures under 365 nm excitation.^[1][1]

TPC-N3 Fluorescent Probe: Imaging H₂S in Liver Cirrhosis

Building on the TPCs fluorescent dye, the Zhang Xiaobing-Yuan Lin research group developed a novel two-photon H₂S probe—TPC-N3. This probe successfully enabled real-time imaging and detection of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a critical gas signaling molecule involved in various physiological and pathological processes.

Breakthrough Findings:

• First-ever successful imaging of H₂S activity during liver cirrhosis progression.
• Discovery of H₂S’s role in self-repair during the early stages of liver cirrhosis.

These findings provide valuable insights into liver disease mechanisms and open new possibilities for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Professor Yuan Lin is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University and the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biosensing and Metrology.Currently, he has published more than 100 papers in international academic journals, with a total citation of more than 12,000 times, and an h-index of 58.Among them, the first or corresponding author from 2012 to presentJ. Am. Chem. Soc.（10 articles）、 Nat. Commun.（1 articles）、 Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.（10 articles）、CCS Chem.（1 articles）、Chem. Sci.（4 articles）、Anal. Chem.（10 articles）、Adv. Funct. Mater、BiomaterialsPublished more than 70 papers in journals and other journals. Mainly engaged in research on small molecule fluorescent probes and their applications.

Product list

1

Product name：
TPC3, 95%
CAS：2232881-29-5
Item number：9332545
Fluorescence properties：λex 375 nm; λem 498 nm

2

Product name：
TPC7, 95%
CAS：2231756-79-7
Item number：9332546
Fluorescence properties：λex 382 nm; λem 518 nm

References

1. Angew.Chem.Int.Ed.2018,57,7473–7477.