A fluorescent turn-on probe for detection of hypochlorus acid and its bioimaging in living cells

Abstract

Hypochlorous acid has played several functions in the biological system. However, excess HOCI can cause damage to biomolecules and result in some diseases. Accordingly, a new fluorescent probe, BSP, has been developed for fast recognition of HOCI through the HOG-induced oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide to sulfoxide. The reaction of BSP with HOG caused a 22-fold fluorescence enhancement (quantum yield increase from 0.006 to 0.133). The detection limit of HOCI is found to be 30 nM (S/N = 3). The fluorescence enhancement is due to the suppression of the photo-induced electron transfer from the methyl phenyl sulfide moiety to BODIPY. Eventually, the cellular fluorescence imaging experiment showed that BSP could be effectively used for monitoring HOCI in living cells. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.