[12]aneN-based multifunctional compounds as fluorescent probes and nucleic acids delivering agents.

A series of multifunctional compounds (MFCs) - based on 1,8-naphthalimide and [12]aneN building blocks were designed and synthesized. They were used as not only fluorescent probes for recognition of Cu ions but also as non-viral gene vectors for DNA and RNA delivery. Furthermore, their complexes with Cu (-Cu) could also selectively stain lysosome in HeLa cells.