Selective Staining and Quantification of Intracellular Lipid Droplets with CBD-Fluor, a New and Versatile Push-Pull Fluorophore

A novel lipophilic dye, based on the structures of benzothiadiazole heterocycles, was shown to be an effective fluorescent stain for the imaging of lipid droplets (LDs) within both fixed and live cells. Its high photo stability, large Stokes shift, and improved staining and specificity over that of commercial dye Nile Red highlight its great potential as a versatile chemical tool for facilitating LD imaging and research.