Cationic molecular probes based on aggregation-induced emission for fluorescent sensing and super-resolution imaging of insulin fibrosis

•The tetraarylethylenes with different aromatic ketone are synthesized by GCC reaction.•Hydrophilic tetraarylethylenes exhibit AIE effect opposite to their hydrophobic precursors.•The detection limit of cationic probes for insulin fibrils is as low as 0.64 nM.•Cationic tetraarylethylenes allow super-resolution imaging of fibrils via electrostatic interaction.•Super-resolution imaging of insulin fibrils with a high resolution of 35 nm.