The tuning of the spectroscopic signatures boron-carrying fluorescent dyes by subtle chemical modifications is achieved.

Formazan-based colorimetric cytotoxicity assays, such as the MTT assay, are typically used to assess cell viability with only metabolically active cells reducing tetrazolium salts into the formazans, which is then quantified by absorbance. Fluorescence offers several advantages compared to colorimetric assays and would enable techniques such as flow cytometry and confocal microscopy to be used ...