A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of peroxynitrite and its application for tracing endogenous peroxynitrite in live cells†
Abstract
Peroxynitrite (ONOO−) is a reactive and short-lived biological oxidant endogenously generated in biosystems, and its excessive production is related to various diseases. However, the functional mechanisms of ONOO− are not fully understood. Here, we present a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe CPD-ratio for the accurate detection of ONOO− under single wavelength excitation. This study showed that the probe CPD-ratio can achieve the ratiometric detection of ONOO− with rapid response, and it possessed excellent selectivity and sensitivity (detection limit was calculated to be 47 nM). These properties and its non-toxicity demonstrated that probe CPD-ratio could be potentially employed to accurately monitor ONOO− levels in biological systems. We have thoroughly demonstrated the utility of the probe CPD-ratio for ratiometric bioimaging, because it has been effectively used to trace the exogenous and endogenous ONOO− in live cells.