Rational Design of an α-Ketoamide-Based Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe Specific for Hydrogen Peroxide in Living Systems

Hydrogen peroxide, an important biomolecule, receives earliest attention because of its physiological and pathological functions. In this Article, we present the rational design, characterization, and biological application of a mitochondria-targetable NIR fluorescent sensor, Milo= NIRHP, for hydrogen peroxide visualization. Mito-NIRHP utilizes a unique reaction switch, a-ketoamide moiety, to turn on a highly specific, sensitive, and rapid fluorescence :response toward hydrogen peroxide coupled with the intramolecular charge transfer strategy. Mito-NIRHP is ompetent to track endogenously produced hydrogen peroxide in both living cells and liVing animals. In addition, utilizing Mito-NIRHP, overgeneration of hydrogen peroxide during ischemiareperfusion injury was directly visualized at both cell and organ levels.