Visualizing hydrogen sulfide in HepG2 cells exposed to OGD/R and in the liver of zebrafish with a hepatocyte-targeting fluorescent probe

A hepatocyte-targeting fluorescent probe (GSP) for the detection of H2S both in vitro and in zebrafish was reported. By applying NBD-amine as a reactive group, this probe exhibits excellent properties in an aqueous solution with good selectivity, high sensitivity, and better photostability. The detection limit was determined to be as low as 11 nM. Besides, the probe could be targeting delivered to HepG2 cells and the liver of zebrafish, which has been applied to image H2S up-regulation during oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) in HepG2 cells and track D-cysteine-induced endogenous biosynthetic of H2S in the liver of zebrafish.

Automated summary

The hepatocyte-targeting fluorescent probe GSP shows excellent selectivity, high sensitivity, and low detection limit for H2S detection in aqueous solution. It can be delivered to HepG2 cells and the liver of zebrafish, facilitating imaging of H2S up-regulation and tracking endogenous biosynthetic pathways.