Mercaptopyrimidine-directed gold nanoclusters: a suitable fluorescent probe for intracellular glutathione imaging and selective cancer cell identification

Herein, we demonstrate a novel, facile, and suitable strategy for imaging GSH based on mercaptopyrimidine-directed gold nanoclusters (Au NCs). GSH can specifically induce the fluorescence enhancement of Au NCs by attacking the surface of the NCs to form dual ligand stabilized Au NCs at the millimolar level. Very importantly, the Au NCs can selectively image cancer cells.