<abstract abstract-type="toc"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <graphic position="anchor" id="ga" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgj1zk78cx6" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" />New aminonaphthalimide-based pyridinium podands as "turn-on" fluorescent probes were designed and synthesised for selectively sensing maltose in living cells.</p> </abstract>