A rapid response Turn-On fluorescent probe for nitroreductase detection and its application in hypoxic tumor cell imaging

A novel Turn-On fluorescent probe, quaternarized 4-pyridinyl-substituted BODIPY dye by incorporating a 5-nitrofuran moiety, was developed and applied for imaging the hypoxic status of tumor cells by the indirect detection of nitroreductase. The design was based on a nitroreductase-catalyzed reduction of the nitrofuran moiety in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) as an electron donor and followed by the 1,6-rearrangement-elimination and the release of free 4-pyridinyl-substituted BODIPY dye 2. This probe displayed desired properties such as high specificity, Turn-On fluorescence response with suitable sensitivity, appreciable water solubility and rapid response time (within 5 min). Moreover, as a biocompatible molecule, the probe has been successfully applied for imaging the hypoxic status of tumor cells (e. g. A549 cells) and especially used for real-time determination of nitroreductase produced by Escherichia coli. Therefore, we hope to apply this novel method in the biomedical research fields for the imaging of disease-relevant hypoxia and detection of pathogenic microorganisms.