Effect of meso-substituent and solvent nature on spectral properties, pH-stability and affinity to blood transport proteins of BODIPY dyes

•Effect of meso-substituent and solvent on the spectral properties, lipophilicity of BODIPYs were analyzed.•Meso-substitution causes a hypsochromic shift and an increase in the Stokes shift (up to ∼2.6 times) of BODIPYs.•Meso-substituted BODIPYs are stable over a wide pH range and exhibit intense fluorescence.•Meso-substitution of BODIPY by carboxylic acid residues and their esters increases the affinity of dyes to biomolecules.