2-NBDG is a fluorescently-labeled deoxyglucose analog that is used primarily to directly monitor glucose uptake by living cells and tissues. It is also used as a topical contrast reagent for the detection of neoplasia. 2-NBDG can be used in real-time confocal, high-resolution, or wide-field fluorescence microscopy as well as in flow cytometry. The probe can be excited by the Argon laser at 488 nm to give the environment-sensitive fluorescence. It has lower photostability than the rhodamine-based fluorescent probes.
