A mitochondria-targetable fluorescent probe with a large Stokes shift for detecting hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution and living cells

Abstract

Fluorescent probes with large Stokes shifts play a key role in maintaining the accuracy of biological imaging and minimizing the self-quenching effect. In this work, we have developed a novel fluorescent probe CAI, which possessed a large Stokes shift in various solutions. We found that CAI was capable of detecting hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in aqueous solution. Furthermore, probe CAI can sense exogenous and endogenous H₂O₂ in the mitochondria of living RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, probe CAI exhibited ideal properties such as excellent photostability, high sensitivity and selectivity. This fluorescent dye with a large Stokes shift was expected to have a more broad range of applications for developing various fluorescent probes with large Stokes shifts.