Synthesized and investigated photophysical properties of several substituted styryl type dyes d1–d15.

Three dyes d7, d9 and d10 showed good fluorescent properties and maintained drug-like binding property.

Observed an unusual dual emission behavior with two distinct ground state conformers that could individually be excited.

Observed an anomalous emission behavior on dye systems d7 and d8 the amino-derivative d7 showed a dual emission characteristic in the polar medium, while the N,N-dimethyl derivative d8 did not.

Interestingly, when compound d7 was injected into a mouse and the dye bound to nerves were excited by either 405 nm or 447 nm laser, a wavelength dependent emission described above was observed similar to fluorescence in DMSO.

In vivo fluorescence imaging studies in rodents using small animal multispectral imaging instrument and the dual-mode laparoscopic instrument developed in-house.