Asymmetric D-A-D' Ratiometric Molecule for Highly Specific Hypochlorous Acid Detection

Area of Science:

• Chemical sensing
• Molecular probes
• Biomarker detection

Background:

• Hypochlorous acid (HClO) and hypochlorite (ClO-) share similar oxidative activities, complicating their differentiation.
• Accurate detection of HClO is crucial for understanding biological processes and diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a highly specific fluorescent probe for HClO detection.
• To achieve an optimized ratiometric response for accurate quantification.

Main Methods:

• Development of an asymmetric donor-acceptor-donor' (D-A-D') molecular architecture for the probe (PMT NPs).
• Modulation of electron acceptor properties to tune the probe's oxidation potential for HClO selectivity.
• Utilizing intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) shifts for ratiometric fluorescence signaling.

Main Results:

• The PMT NPs probe demonstrated exceptional specificity for HClO over ClO-.
• The probe exhibited an optimized ratiometric response with a controlled blue shift in fluorescence.
• Successful validation in live cell imaging and *in vivo* studies using zebrafish and mouse models.

Conclusions:

• The D-A-D' molecular design strategy enables precise HClO recognition in acidic environments.
• The developed probe allows real-time monitoring of HClO surges.
• This approach offers a promising platform for designing probes for various biomolecules and advancing disease research.