A simple highly selective and sensitive hydroquinone-based two-photon fluorescent probe for imaging peroxynitrite in live cells

Exploiting specific and sensitive techniques for tracking peroxynitrite (ONOO-) in the biological systems is of great significance to understand its diverse pathophysiology. Herein, we have constructed a simple, 4-hydroxynaphthalimide-derived two-photon fluorescent probe TPHQ for imaging ONOO- in live cells. Probe TPHQ with the recognition receptor of hydroquinone moiety exhibited excellent selectivity towards ONOO- over various bio-related analytes including H2O2 and OCl-. Additionally, probe TPHQ could rapidly monitor ONOO- with high sensitivity (DL = 16 nM). With probe TPHQ the fluctuations of ONOO- levels in live cells were successfully tracked by the one-photon and two-photon fluorescence microscopy. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.