A conformational tweak for enhanced cellular internalization, photobleaching resistance and prolonged imaging efficacy

A strategy of conformational tweaking regulates the condensed state behavior of naphthalimide skeletal isomers (NSIs) and enhances their photophysical properties, cellular uptake and prolonged imaging capability. This salient approach results in a large Stokes shift (>120 nm), rapid cellular internalization, photobleaching resistance, and efficient bioimaging of the ribbon-like nano-assembly superior to that of its electronically similar micro-flower isomer. A simple strategy of conformational manipulation has been unveiled to fine-tune the photophysical and supramolecular self-assembly properties of small molecular systems, which subsequently regulates their biological activities.