Environment-sensitive luminophoric molecules have played an important role in the fields of smart materials, sensing, and bioimaging. In this study, it was demonstrated that depending on the substituents, 9-aryl-3-aminocarbazoles can display aggregation-induced emission and solvatofluorochromism, and the operating mechanism was clarified. The application of these compounds to lipid droplet imaging and fluorescent probes for cysteamine was demonstrated.

We describe the design and facile synthesis of a fluorescent alkoxyfuroxan naphthalenediimide (NDI) hybrid nitric oxide (NO) donor molecule which releases NO under spatiotemporal control when irradiated with visible light (420-600 nm). The hybrid also demonstrates cellular uptake made possible by its fluorescence capability. This research consolidates on our recent work into visible light absorbing photosensitised furoxan NO release by addressing the limitations of previous designs. Key points of photoinduced nitric oxide donors are highlighted such as water solubility, NO release, cellular uptake, fluorescence, and longer absorption wavelengths.