A highly selective and ultrasensitive ratiometric far-red fluorescent probe for imaging endogenous peroxynitrite in living cells

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2018-04, Vol.259, p.797-802
• Main Authors: Zhu, Baocun, Wu, Liu, Wang, Yawei, Zhang, Meng, Zhao, Ziyang, Liu, Caiyun, Wang, Zuokai, Duan, Qingxia, Jia, Pan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biosensors; Borates; Boron; Cells (biology); Charge transfer; Far-red fluorescence emission; Fluorescence; Fluorescence bioimaging; Fluorescent indicators; Fluorescent probe; Molecular chains; Nitrates; Peroxynitrite (ONOO−)
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2017.12.135

[Display omitted] •An ICT-based ratiometric far-red fluorescent probe for ONOO− was developed.•The probe could quantitatively and sensitively detect ONOO− (DL = 0.9 nM)•The probe exhibited excellent selectivity toward ONOO−.•The probe possessed a fast response for ONOO− (< 5 s).•The probe was used to the fluorescence imaging of endogenous ONOO− in living cells Peroxynitrite (ONOO−) is involved in various physiological and pathological processes. However the detailed mechanisms of ONOO− in the biological systems remain unclear, probably due to the lack of specific and sensitive methods for detecting ONOO− in living cells. Herein, based on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism, we have developed a highly specific and ultrasensitive ratiometric far-red fluorescent probe RFR-PN for monitoring ONOO− in living cells. Experimental results demonstrated probe RFR-PN possesses high specificity toward ONOO− than other various bioactive molecules. Probe RFR-PN could quantitatively and sensitively detect ONOO− with the detection limit of 0.9 nM by the ratiometric fluorescence method. Surprisingly, the fast response of probe RFR-PN for ONOO− (