Flavin-based probe for real-time monitoring of hypochlorous acid dynamics in live cells

Abstract

The present study introduces TPA-vinylene-flavin (TVF) as a flavin-based turn-on fluorescent probe. TVF effectively detects HOCl, as evaluated by the solution phase studies with a detection limit of 0.36 μM. This probe shows excellent biocompatibility and rapid cellular internalization, making it suitable for real-time monitoring of HOCl fluctuations in both physiological and pathological conditions. Furthermore, the TVF probe exhibits specific mitochondrial localization and selectively detects HOCl in both endogenous and exogenous contexts within live cells. It demonstrates excellent sensitivity to HOCl concentrations over time, enabling precise tracking of dynamic fluctuations, which is critical for understanding its role in cellular processes and oxidative stress-related pathologies.