A dual colorimetric-ratiometric fluorescent probe NAP-3 for selective detection and imaging of endogenous labile iron(III) pools in C. elegans

The discovery of an iron(III)-selective ratiometric fluorescent probe to detect and visualize endogenous labile iron pools in living organisms at the molecular level has been long awaited. Herein we report the first dual colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe naphtho[2,1-b]-[1,10] phenanthroline NAP-3 for selective and 'direct' visualization of labile iron(III) pools in a multicellular organism, Caenorhabditis elegans.