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[Display omitted] • Novel amino-pyridyl-benzothiazole derivatives were implemented as Zn2+ sensors. • A gradient turn-on luminescence response was observed upon coordination with Zn2+. • Instantaneous and selective determination in the 4.7 to 80 μM range was verified at pH 7.0. • The sensor revealed intracellular Zn2+ levels of some cancer cell lines. • The real-time epifluorescence distribution profiles correlated with the concentration and location of the target within living cells. Novel amino-pyridyl-benzothiazole-derivatives (PBT) were synthesized through cycloaddition/nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions for the development of a turn-on fluorescence chemosensor that accurately determines Zn2+ in polar media. The selectivity, water-solubility, and overall analytical response were systematically optimized through incorporation of different aliphatic amines as substituents: pyrrolidine (PBT-Pyn), ethylenediamine (PBT-Et) or 1,3-propylenediamine (PBT-Pr). Those ligands presented intense dual radiative emissions in the blue/green region upon activation with a 395 nm LED, which were attributed to the local excitation and internal energy transfer states. Although no variations were observed upon the interaction of Zn2+ with PBT-Pyn, both turn-off and turn-on responses were observed upon its interaction with PBT-Et. These responses depended on the ligand concentration and the associated inner filter effects. Thereby, PBT-Pr was selected for a deeper evaluation towards photoluminescence determination of Zn2+ due to its exclusive turn-on response and major sensibility obtained at pH 7.0, making it very convenient for analysis in physiological media. Under those conditions, the detection limits were 1.9 µM and 4.7 µM for measurements in aqueous or ethanolic solutions, respectively, with linear ranges up to 40 and 80 μM. The selectivity and good biocompatibility of the chemosensor were demonstrated through cell-viability assays with MCF-7, 3T3-L1 and HT-29 cell lines. The probe was then applied for the real-time epifluorescence imaging of Zn2+, observing emission intensities and distribution profiles that correlated with the concentration and location of the target within living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]