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A colorimetric and fluorescent probe for detecting intracellular GSH
Chunyang Chen1, Wei Liu1, Cong Xu1
1Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metals Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province and State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
Biosensors & Bioelectronics
|April 19, 2015
Summary
A novel coumarin-based probe enables sensitive and selective detection of intracellular glutathione (GSH). This biocompatible probe allows for rapid fluorescence imaging and quantification in various cell types and plant tissues.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Glutathione (GSH) is a crucial endogenous antioxidant vital for cellular health.
- Dysregulation of GSH levels is implicated in various pathologies, necessitating sensitive detection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel coumarin-based fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective intracellular GSH detection.
- To evaluate the probe's performance in biological imaging and quantification.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a coumarin-based probe (probe 1) via a 3-step procedure.
- Assessment of probe sensitivity (LOD 122 nM) and selectivity via Michael addition mechanism.
- Application of probe 1 for fluorescence imaging in Hela and Hek-293a cells, and plant tissues.
Main Results:
- Probe 1 exhibited high sensitivity and a significant fluorescence turn-on response (>15) towards GSH.
- The probe demonstrated high selectivity for GSH over other amino acids.
- Rapid cellular imaging (1 min in Hek-293a cells) and quantitative determination (8-48 μM in Hela cells) were achieved.
- Probe 1 showed excellent biocompatibility with cell viability >80%.
Conclusions:
- Probe 1 is a rapid, highly sensitive, and selective fluorescent probe for intracellular GSH detection.
- The probe's biocompatibility and imaging capabilities make it suitable for biological applications.
- This coumarin-based probe offers a valuable tool for studying GSH-related biological processes.

