Visualizing fluoride ion in mitochondria and lysosome of living cells and in living mice with positively charged ratiometric probes.

Two ratiometric probes fluoride ion, Mito-F and Lyso-F, were rationally designed and synthesized with positive charges at physiological conditions. The positive charges functioned as target moieties for subcellular mitochondria and lysosome of living cells, and effective sequesters of fluoride ion for fast and efficient fluorescent detection. In addition, in vivo imaging of fluoride ion in living mice was successfully achieved for the first time using probe Mito-F.