Long-term in situ plasma membrane-targeted imaging is
highly significant
for investigating specific biological processes and functions, especially
for the imaging and tracking of apoptosis processes of cells. However,
currently developed membrane probes are rarely utilized to monitor
the in situ damage of the plasma membrane. Herein, a transition-metal
complex phosphorescent indicator, Ru-Chol, effectively
paired with cholesterol, exhibits excellent properties on staining
the plasma membrane, with excellent antipermeability, good photostability,
large Stokes shift, and long luminescence lifetime. In addition, Ru-Chol not only has the potential to differentiate cancerous
cells from normal cells but also tracks in real time the entire progression
of cisplatin-induced plasma membrane damage and cell apoptosis. Therefore, Ru-Chol can serve as an efficient tool for the monitoring
of morphological and physiological changes in the plasma membrane,
providing assistance for drug screening and early diagnosis and treatment
of diseases, such as immunodeficiency, diabetes, cirrhosis, and tumors.