Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy in biomolecular environments are usually performed in aqueous solution and preferably using red-emitting dyes. However, water quenches their fluorescence. We explore in this contribution how host-guest interactions between red-emitting fluorophores and macrocycles such as cyclodextrins and cucurbiturils can prevent quenching by shielding the dyes from water, thereby enhancing their brightness. We successfully apply this strategy in super-resolution imaging.

DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2025.259

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