A NIR fluorescent probe for dual-phase viscosity monitoring in beverage thickeners and in vivo.

Abstract

Viscosity is a critical quality parameter for liquid foods and is involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Herein, we report a mitochondria-targeting NIR fluorescent probe, CyOH-TPA, for rapid and quantitative viscosity monitoring in beverage systems and liver disease models. Synthesized via condensation of 4-diphenylaminobenzaldehyde and 1,1,2-trimethylbenzo[e]indolium derivatives, CyOH-TPA exhibited an ultra-sensitive viscosity response through suppression of the TICT mechanism. Capitalizing on advantageous photophysical properties such as NIR emission, CyOH-TPA effectively visualized viscosity variations in liver cells, tissues and zebrafish. Notably, in food-quality applications, CyOH-TPA quantified the efficacy of diverse food thickeners and enabled real-time viscosity assessment of commercial thickeners in green tea matrices. Overall, this study presents a novel sensing approach applicable to both biomedical diagnostics and food science, offering promising avenues for advancements in disease detection and food safety technologies.