Small Molecule Quinoxaline Fluorescent Probe for AcO^- Real-Time Detection in Vivo

Area of Science:

• Chemical Biology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Acetate ion (AcO⁻) detection is crucial for metabolism, inflammation, and disease diagnosis.
• Challenges in AcO⁻ detection include its small charge-to-radius ratio and interference from other anions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a specific and sensitive fluorescent probe for accurate AcO⁻ detection.
• To investigate the probe's performance in biological samples and living systems.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a quinoxaline-based fluorescent probe (QPDMT).
• Utilizing molecular nucleophilicity and electron transfer for a turn-on fluorescence response.
• Characterization of probe performance including detection limit, response time, and linearity.

Main Results:

• QPDMT demonstrated a low detection limit (30 nM) and rapid response time (20 min).
• The probe exhibited a robust linear response (1-9 µM) and high fluorescence quantum yield (0.32).
• QPDMT showed low cytotoxicity, suitable for detecting endogenous AcO⁻ in living cells.

Conclusions:

• QPDMT is a highly effective fluorescent probe for specific acetate ion detection.
• The probe's properties make it valuable for real-time biological monitoring and diagnostics.
• This development advances the field of anion sensing for biomedical applications.