A mitochondria-targeted fluorescent probe for hypochlorite sensing and its application in bioimaging

Area of Science:

• Chemical sensors
• Fluorescent probes
• Biomedical applications

Background:

• Hypochlorite (OCl-) is a reactive oxygen species involved in various biological processes.
• Accurate detection of OCl- is crucial for understanding cellular functions and disease mechanisms.
• Existing detection methods may lack selectivity, sensitivity, or biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel coumarin-diaminomaleonitrile (C-DAN) derivative as a fluorescent probe.
• To evaluate the probe's response to hypochlorite (OCl-).
• To assess the probe's applicability for detecting OCl- in biological environments.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of the C-DAN derivative.
• Spectroscopic analysis (fluorescence and colorimetric) of C-DAN in response to OCl-.
• In vitro and in vivo experiments using living cells and zebrafish.

Main Results:

• The C-DAN probe exhibited enhanced fluorescence emission at 475 nm upon OCl- addition.
• A rapid response (within 5 seconds) and a visible color change from dark red to bright yellow were observed.
• The probe demonstrated high selectivity, sensitivity, and low toxicity.
• Successful detection of OCl- in living cells and zebrafish was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The C-DAN derivative functions as an effective fluorescent probe for hypochlorite detection.
• The probe's rapid response, high selectivity, sensitivity, and low toxicity make it suitable for biological applications.
• C-DAN is a promising tool for real-time monitoring of OCl- in complex biological systems.