Morphological tuning via structural modulations in AIE luminogens with the minimum number of possible variables and their use in live cell imaging

With intent to fine tune the morphological and photophysical properties, three novel AIE luminogens (BQ1-BQ3) based on quinoline-BODIPY have been synthesized. A judicious choice of substituents (-H, -CH3, -OCH3) in these systems led to nanoballs in BQ1 and BQ2, while in BQ3 it led to reticulated nanofibers with diverse photophysical behaviours.