A near-infrared fluorescent probe for ratiometric sensing of SO 2 in cells and zebrafish

• Published in: Analyst (London) Vol. 145; no. 24; pp. 7985 - 7992
• Main Authors: Lv, Mengya, Zhang, Yanhao, Fan, Jiayi, Yang, Yanyun, Chen, Sheng, Liang, Gaolin, Zhang, Shusheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• ISSN: 0003-2654; 1364-5528
• DOI: 10.1039/D0AN01468K

Developing suitable molecular tools for monitoring SO 2 and its derivatives in living organisms is attractive due to their importance for human health. Herein, the first near-infrared fluorescent probe Mito-HN with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics for ratiometric sensing of SO 2 derivatives in vitro , in cells, and in zebrafish was designed and synthesized. By connecting the electron-donating naphthopyran and electron-withdrawing hemicyanine via the alkenyl group, this probe displays a near-infrared fluorescence emission and notable solid-state luminescence with AIEE features. Based on the specific 1,4-addition reaction of HSO 3 − /SO 3 2− with the CC double bond of Mito-HN , this probe can specifically sense HSO 3 − in real time with an excellent near-infrared ratiometric fluorescence effect, a low detection limit of 0.17 μM, and a fast response time of less than 30 s. Cell imaging and zebrafish imaging results demonstrate that Mito-HN can ratiometrically not only sense endogenous SO 2 derivatives in mitochondria but also monitor SO 2 in living organisms. We anticipate that Mito-HN could be applied for the diagnosis of SO 2 -related diseases in the future.