An ESIPT fluorescent probe for ultrarapid HClO detection during reagent-stimulated oxidative stress in cells and zebrafish

As a reliable signaling biomolecule for oxidative stress, the accurate hypochlorous acid (HClO) detection during agent-stimulated oxidative stress plays a vital role in pathological and physiological mechanism exploration for disease theranostics. Therefore, the development of robust analytical tools for HClO is highly significant. Herein we presented an ESIPT fluorescent probe (MEBTA-Cl) for HClO detection. MEBTA-Cl exhibited ultrarapid-response (around 6 s), high sensitivity (42-folds) and low detection limit (7.8 nM) toward HClO titration in solution. MEBTA-Cl was capable to detect both exo-/endogenous HClO in living cells. Moreover, MEBTA-Cl was successfully employed to monitor HClO level in acetaminophen (APAP), disulfiram (DSF) and doxorubicin (DOX)-stimulated oxidative stress. Importantly, using this useful probe, it was available to detect HClO in li-popolysaccharides (LPS) and APAP treated zebrafish.

Automated summary

In this study, an ESIPT fluorescent probe, MEBTA-Cl, was developed for highly sensitive and low detection limit HClO detection. The probe showed rapid response, high sensitivity, and was successfully used for detecting HClO in living cells and zebrafish.