Hypochlorite-activated analyte-replacement fluorogenic probes for minute-level fast detection of acute kidney injury

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious condition characterized by high morbidity and mortality, often manifesting as abnormal levels of bioactive molecules such as hypochlorous acid (HClO) in urine. We developed a highly sensitive fluorescent probe, Cy-PITC, capable of selectively lighting up trace hypochlorite at the ppb level in urine. Using this approach, HClO produced in an AKI cell model was sensitively detected. Notably, a significant signal enhancement was observed in the urine of AKI mice compared with the control group. Finally, urine samples from healthy volunteers and AKI patients were clearly distinguished within less than two minutes, without the need for complex instruments or specialized training. This strategy demonstrates great potential for use in low-resource settings, such as households, rural clinics, and conflict zones.