Red fluorescent benzothiadiazole derivative loaded in different nanoformulations: Optical properties and their use in bio-imaging

•Nonlinear red fluorescent benzothiadiazole derivative with reduced optical band gap preserving high quantum yield.•Study of the linear and nonlinear optical properties of the title compound loaded in four different nanoformulations.•Nanoformulations with different bio-functionalized end entities for cell uptake.•Determination of the performance of the four fluorophore-doped nanoformulations in bioimaging.