Lysosome-Targeting Red-Emitting Aggregation-Induced Emission Probe with Large Stokes Shift for Light-Up <i>in Situ</i> Visualization of β-<i>N</i>-Acetylhexosaminidase

Abstract

Lysosomal β-<i>N</i>-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) has been reported to possess unique physiological performances. Detection and visualization of Hex in lysosome will be favorable to reveal the basis of its functions. However, Hex-specific fluorescent probes are rarely reported. In this study, we reported the first lysosome-targeting Hex-lighting-up aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active fluorescent probe (GlcNAc-TPE) with remarkably large Stokes shift and high sensitivity and selectivity. GlcNAc-TPE can selectively locate in lysosome and visualize endogenous Hex in live HCT116 cells and in live mice with high stability and good biocompatibility, providing a useful AIE probe for real-time visualization of Hex in live samples.