An Activatable fluorescence probe for real-time monitoring of Peroxynitrite in diabetic wound mouse model

Diabetic wound (DW) is a severe and disabling complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), generally characterized by delayed healing, persistent inflammation, and insufficient reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis. These clinical limitations emphasize the urgent need for sensitive, non-invasive, and real-time analytical strategies to monitor disease progression. In this study, we developed LRX, an activatable fluorescent molecular probe designed for the selective detection of peroxynitrite (ONOO^-). Systematic evaluations demonstrated that LRX exhibited excellent selectivity toward ONOO^-, high chemical stability, and favorable biocompatibility. By applying this probe in a DW mouse model, dynamic changes in ONOO^- levels were successfully visualized and monitored in vivo. These results indicate that LRX can serve as a sensitive and practical platform for real-time imaging of ONOO^- fluctuations under diabetic pathological conditions. Overall, this work provides new insight into nitro-oxidative stress-related mechanisms involved in diabetic complications and offers a useful molecular imaging tool for future diagnostic and therapeutic studies.