Cell-trappable fluorescent probes for nitric oxide visualization in living cells

Area of Science:

• Chemical Biology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Molecular Probes

Background:

• Nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial signaling molecule involved in various physiological and pathological processes.
• Accurate detection and imaging of NO are essential for understanding its biological roles.
• Existing NO probes often suffer from poor selectivity or limited cell-trappability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel cell-trappable fluorescent probes for sensitive and selective detection of nitric oxide (NO).
• To evaluate the probes' performance in terms of selectivity against other reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS).
• To demonstrate the utility of the probes for fluorescence imaging of endogenously produced NO in cellular models.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of two new fluorescent probe designs incorporating hydrolyzable esters or aminodextran polymers.
• Assessment of probe selectivity against a panel of relevant reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS).
• Application of the probes for live-cell fluorescence imaging of nitric oxide production in Raw 264.7 cells.

Main Results:

• Successful development of two distinct cell-trappable fluorescent probes for nitric oxide.
• Demonstrated high selectivity of the probes for NO, distinguishing it from other RONS.
• Effective visualization of endogenously generated nitric oxide in Raw 264.7 cells using fluorescence microscopy.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorescent probes offer a valuable tool for studying nitric oxide biology.
• These probes provide enhanced selectivity and cell-trappability for accurate NO detection.
• The study validates the probes' efficacy for in situ imaging of endogenous NO in cellular environments.