MediaChrom: a new class of versatile polarity-sensitive dyes for imaging applications

Modern biophysical and biomedical research asks for a continuous development of new fluorescent dyes characterized by improved performances and suitable for sensitive monitoring of a wide range of processes. Solvatochromic dyes are able to change their spectroscopic properties in response to changes of environment polarity. We designed a new class of polarity-sensitive dyes, named MediaChrom, that absorb and emit light in the visible range with good extinction coefficient and quantum yield. MediaChrom proved to be highly sensitive to the environment polarity, and can be easily conjugated to proteins and peptides for directing them to defined biological targets.