A near-infrared fluorescent probe based on BODIPY derivative with high quantum yield for selective detection of exogenous and endogenous cysteine in biological samples

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 994; pp. 73 - 81
• Main Authors: Li, Song-Jiao, Fu, Ya-Jun, Li, Chun-Yan, Li, Yong-Fei, Yi, Lan-Hua, Ou-Yang, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 22.11.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Amino acids; Biological effects; Biological properties; Biological samples; Cells; Cysteine; Emission; Fluorescence; Fluorescent indicators; Fluorescent probe; I.R. radiation; Medical imaging; Near-infrared; Probes; Quantum yield; Tissues; Wavelength; Cysteine; Quantum yield; Biological samples; Fluorescent probe; Near-infrared
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.09.031

Cysteine (Cys) is involved in cellular growth and Cys deficiency is related with many diseases. So far, a number of fluorescent probes have been constructed for the detection of Cys successfully. However, the probes are difficult to discriminate Cys from Hcy and the emission wavelength of the probes is in ultraviolet or visible range. Herein, a NIR fluorescent probe named NIR-BODIPY-Ac is synthesized and used to detect Cys. The emission wavelength of the probe is at 708 nm that belongs to near-infrared (NIR) region by attaching indolium to BODIPY core, which is suitable for bioimaging in vivo. Moreover, the probe exhibits high fluorescence quantum yield (Φ = 0.51) after the addition of Cys and high sensitivity toward Cys with 81-fold fluorescence enhancement. The linear range of the probe for Cys covers from 0.2 to 30 μM with a detection limit of 0.05 μM. Furthermore, the probe shows high selectivity towards Cys owing to the fact that there is more fast reaction rate between the probe and Cys than that of Hcy. In particular, the NIR fluorescent probe is applied for the detection of exogenous and endogenous Cys in biological samples such as cell, tissue and mouse with satisfactory results. [Display omitted] •The fluorescence emission of the probe (NIR-BODIPY-Ac) for Cys belongs to NIR region.•The probe exhibits high fluorescence quantum yield after the addition of Cys.•The NIR probe shows high selectivity to Cys over other analytes such as Hcy and GSH.•The NIR probe is used for monitoring exogenous/endogenous Cys in biological samples.