A Fluorescent Probe for Hydrogen Peroxide in Vivo Based on the Modulation of Intramolecular Charge Transfer

Endogenous hydrogen peroxide in vivo is related to many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although many probes for detection of H₂O₂ have been explored, rapid response probes are still expected for in vivo application. Here, a new probe (PAM-BN-PB) was designed based on an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process with three parts: phenanthroimidazole, benzonitrile, and phenyl boronate. By modulation ICT process of PAM-BN-PB, H₂O₂ in solution systems can be detected with good selectivity. The exogenous and endogenous H₂O₂ in normal living cells, ischemia-reperfusion injury cells, and animals all can be imaged by PAM-BN-PB.