Detecting hydroxyl radical with a new two-photon fluorescent probe in living cells

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be involved in the onset and development of multiple diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes among others. Generation of ROS is a phenomenon that results from normal cell metabolism as well as from the response to certain pathologic stimuli like certain cytokines, xenobiotics and bacterial infection. These ROS are highly reactive, short-lived molecules that play critical roles in the living cell and it is well accepted that cellular oxidative stress results from the imbalance between generation and elimination of ROS in cells. In this work, we describe the design and synthesis of a two photon (TP) organelle-targeting activatable fluorescent probe. This probe is a naphthalene-indoline compound that targets specifically lysosomes, reaching these organelles in the fluorescence “off” state and minimizing background reactions. Upon arrival at the lysosomes, the probe is triggered and a fluorescence “on” signal is observed that can be combined with TP microscopy to image the lysosomal •OH in living cells.