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Protein oligomers, which are formed due to the aggregation of protein molecules under physiological stress, are neurotoxic and responsible for several neurological diseases. Early detection of protein oligomers is essential for the timely intervention in the associated diseases. Although several probes have been developed for the detection of insoluble matured protein fibrils, fluorescent probes with emission in the near infrared (NIR) region for probing protein oligomers are very rare. In the present study we have designed and synthesized a glucose-conjugated BODIPY dye with emission in the NIR spectral range. Our detailed studies show that the new probe is not only capable of detecting matured fibrils but can also probe the formation of oligomers from the native protein. The new probe shows a large increase in its emission intensity upon association with oligomers and matured fibrils. Hence, the present probe has a great potential for the in vivo imaging of protein oligomers and matured fibrils. Detailed spectroscopic properties of the new probes in molecular solvents have been performed to understand its oligomers- and fibril- sensing mechanism., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The syntheses of three water-soluble glucose-conjugated BODIPY dyes with different wavelength emissions and studies of their photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) action on human lung cancer A549 cell line are disclosed. Amongst the chosen compounds, the BODIPY dye 4 possessing a glycosylated styryl moiety at the C-3 position showed best PDT property against the A549 cell line. In particular, it induced reactive oxygen species-mediated caspase-8/caspase-3-dependent apoptosis as revealed from the increased sub G1 cell population and changes in cell morphology. These results along with its localization in the endoplasmic reticulum, as revealed by confocal microscopy suggested that mitochondria may not be directly involved in the photo-cytotoxicity of 4. Compound 4 did not induce any dark toxicity to the A549 cells, and was non-toxic to normal lung cells., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)