Rational construction of a simplified hemicyanine-based fluorescent probe CCX-1 with dual pH and viscosity response for lysosome-specific tumour imaging†

Abstract

A simplified D–π–A hemicyanine probe CCX-1 was rationally designed and synthesised via a one-step condensation reaction. CCX-1 exhibits dual-responsive fluorescence behavior towards pH and viscosity changes, along with specific lysosomal targeting capability. Notably, CCX-1 enables discrimination between tumor and normal cells, and tumor visualization in living mice, showing significant potential for precise cancer imaging and diagnosis.