Aggregation-Induced Emission Probes for Specific Turn-On Quantification of Bovine Serum Albumin.

A series of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescence probes, coined 4H-pyrimido[2,1-]benzothiazole derivatives, has been synthesized by Biginelli reactions. Utilizing spectroscopic techniques, their photophysical properties have been comprehensively investigated in working environment both and . Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to better understand the mechanism of these probes. The interactions between 4H-pyrimido[2,1-]benzothiazoles with different substituents and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were analyzed using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence, and docking analysis. Studies found that 4H-pyrimido[2,1-]benzothiazole could bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA) through a hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions, resulting in enhancement of fluorescence emission of probes - and fluorescence quenching of BSA. Combined with cell imaging experiments, these provide information on potential effects of benzothiazoles on disease treatment.