Selective FRET nano probe based on carbon dots and naphthalimide-isatin for the ratiometric detection of peroxynitrite in drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause for acute liver failure in the USA and Europe. However, most of DILI cases can recover or be prevented if treatment by the offending drug is discontinued. Recent research indicates that peroxynitrite (ONOO-) can be a potential indicator to diagnose DILI at an early stage. Therefore, the establishment of an assay to detect and track ONOO- in DILI cases is urgently needed. Here, a FRET-based ratiometric nano fluorescent probe CD-N-I was developed to detect ONOO- with high selectivity and excellent sensitivity. This probe consists of carbon dots and a naphthalimide-isatin peroxynitrite sensing system assembled based on electrostatic interactions. Using CD-N-I we were able to detect exogenous ONOO- in live cells and endogenous ONOO- in APAP-induced liver injury of HepG2 cells. Ratiometric FRET-based probe CD-N-I was developed to detect exogenous ONOO- in live cells and endogenous ONOO- in APAP-induced liver injury of HepG2 cells.

Automated summary

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a common cause of acute liver failure in the USA and Europe, but most cases can be recovered or prevented by discontinuing the offending drug. Recent research has found that peroxynitrite (ONOO-) can be used as a potential indicator for early diagnosis of DILI, and there is an urgent need to establish a method to detect and track peroxynitrite in DILI cases. In this study, a FRET-based nano fluorescent probe CD-N-I was developed, which showed high selectivity and sensitivity in detecting peroxynitrite. The probe successfully detected exogenous peroxynitrite in live cells and endogenous peroxynitrite in APAP-induced liver injury of HepG2 cells.