Imaging and Monitoring the Hydrogen Peroxide Level in Heart Failure by a Fluorescent Probe with a Large Stokes Shift

Heart failure is the terminal stage of many cardiovascular diseases and is considered to be closely related to oxidative stress. Early understanding of pathogenesis can greatly improve the treatment and reduce the mortality of heart disease. In this work, based on the analysis of coumarin derivates by theoretical calculations, we designed and synthesized a fluorescent probe BCO with a large Stokes shift (107 nm) and excellent selectivity toward H₂O₂ in a living system. The distribution of H₂O₂ in the heart and thoracic aorta tissues was imaged with the aid of the probe BCO, which demonstrated that the cellular H₂O₂ level is upregulated in heart failure. This work provides a useful tool, BCO, for the evaluation of cellular oxidative stress and to further understand the pathophysiology process of heart disease.