Tunable fluorescent probes for detecting aldehydes in living systems

Area of Science:

• Chemical Biology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Aldehydes are widespread environmental compounds with significant health risks at high concentrations.
• Monitoring total aldehyde levels in biological systems is vital due to their cumulative toxic effects.
• Existing methods for cellular aldehyde detection are limited to UV-visible ranges, hindering real-time analysis in living systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel fluorescent probes for sensitive and selective detection of aldehydes in biological samples.
• To overcome the limitations of current aldehyde detection methods in living systems.
• To enable the visualization and quantification of both exogenous and endogenous aldehydes within complex biological environments.

Main Methods:

• A novel reaction-based trigger utilizing 2-aminothiophenol's selective reaction with aldehydes was designed.
• A series of fluorescent probes were synthesized by integrating various fluorophores with the aldehyde-reactive moiety.
• The probes were characterized for chemoselectivity, kinetics, and quantum yield, with a near-infrared probe tested in biological systems.

Main Results:

• The developed probes demonstrated high chemoselectivity for aldehydes and rapid reaction kinetics.
• Probes exhibited high quantum yields, enabling sensitive detection across visible to near-infrared spectra.
• A near-infrared fluorescent probe successfully detected aldehydes in living systems, including biliary organoids and mouse organs.

Conclusions:

• The new fluorescent probes offer a versatile platform for aldehyde detection in biological research.
• These tools facilitate the study of aldehyde roles in biological functions and diseases within living organisms.
• The findings pave the way for advanced diagnostics and therapeutic strategies targeting aldehyde-related pathologies.