ESIPT Active Assemblies for 'On-On' Detection, Cell Imaging and Hampering Cellular Activity of 2,6-Dichloro-4-nitroaniline.

ESIPT active PBI-keto/enol assemblies have been developed which show 'on-on' optical response towards 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCN) due to a combined ESIPT-AIEE phenomenon with a detection limit of 1.65 nM. The potential of PBI-keto/enol assemblies to detect DCN has also been explored in grape juice/grape residue and soil for six consecutive days. Further, the biological applications of PBI-keto/enol assemblies to detect DCN in blood serum, in MG-63 cell lines and their ability to restrict the DCN-induced cell death have been demonstrated.