A dual-emission fluorescence-enhanced probe for imaging copper(II) ions in lysosomes

We have developed the first example of a fluorescence-enhanced and lysosome-targeted Cu2+ probe (Lys-Cu) with unique dual-channel emissions. The newly synthesized fluorescent probe Lys-Cu, which contains two recognition sites with different sensing mechanisms for Cu2+, displays fluorescence-enhanced dual-channel emissions with fluorescence response to Cu2+ in the lysosome pH environment. Fluorescence imaging shows that Lys-Cu is membrane-permeable and suitable for visualization of Cu2+ in lysosomes of living cells by dual-channel imaging.