1.D.166. The Fluorescent Probe (Tetraphenylethene) Anion Transporter (FP-AT) Family
Akhtar et al. 2021 described the development of a hypoxia-responsive proanionophore that triggers controlled transport of anions across membranes. They reported the development of tetraphenylethene (TPE)-based anion transporters. The sulfonium-linked p-nitrobenzyl containing TPE-based proanionophore could be converted into a lipophilic fluorescent Cl- ion carrier in a hypoxic or reductive environment. Stimuli such as nitroreductase (NTR) and glutathione (GSH) mediated regeneration of the TPE-based active Cl- ion transporter which also showed aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties. Akhtar et al. 2021 hypothesized that such hypoxia- and reductive stimuli-activatable proanionophores have potential to fight channelopathies and cancer.