We designed and synthesized a novel nano-thermometer using aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) dye as the reporter and household butter as the matrix. This temperature nanosensor showed decreased fluorescence intensities (∼2%/°C) and shorter fluorescence lifetimes (∼0.11 ns/°C) upon increasing the environmental temperature in the physiological temperature range. Such fluorescence responses were reversible and independent of the environmental pH and ionic strength. The application of these nano-thermometers in temperature sensing in living cells using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) was also demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of AIE-based nano-thermometer for temperature sensing in living cells. This work also provides us with a simple and low-cost method for rapid fabrication of an effective nanosensor based on AIE mechanism.

中文翻译：

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一个简单而有效的基于AIE的荧光纳米温度计，可使用荧光寿命成像显微镜在活细胞中进行温度定位。

我们设计并合成了一种新型的纳米温度计，它使用聚集诱导发射（AIE）染料作为报告分子，以家用黄油为基质。当在生理温度范围内增加环境温度时，这种温度纳米传感器显示出降低的荧光强度（〜2％/°C）和较短的荧光寿命（〜0.11 ns /°C）。这样的荧光反应是可逆的，并且与环境pH和离子强度无关。还证明了这些纳米温度计在使用荧光寿命成像显微镜（FLIM）进行的活细胞温度感测中的应用。据我们所知，这是用于活细胞温度感测的基于AIE的纳米温度计的第一个示例。