A facile sequentially-activatable fluorescent probe for fast imaging superoxide anion in ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disease affecting the rectum and the colon. Superoxide anion (O2•-), as the primary precursor of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is closely associated with the progression of UC. However, in vivo fast detection of O2•- in the alkaline microenvironment of UC remains a considerable challenge. Herein, a sequentially-activatable fluorescent probe, PT-3F, is engineered for fast fluorescence imaging of O2•- in an alkaline condition. The synthesized probe displays high selectivity, minimal background and rapid response to O2•-, enabling for in vivo fluorescence imaging of O2•- in PC-12 cells and colons of mice with UC.