A COX2-targeting cancer-specific fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide detection in living cells, , and zebrafish

• Published in: Analyst (London) Vol. 149; no. 5; pp. 1489 - 1495
• Main Authors: Yuan, Fengying, Zhao, Qiao, Zeng, Yanyan, Liao, Xu Fang, Li, Jiali, Liu, Bo, Kou, Jun Feng, Zhong, Xiaolin, Wu, Xiang Hua, Zhang, Jun Feng, Ren, Wen Xiu
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 26.02.2024
• ISSN: 0003-2654; 1364-5528
• DOI: 10.1039/d3an01847d

A novel cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) targeted H 2 S-activated cancer-specific fluorescent probe, namely, COX2-H 2 S , was designed and synthesized, with naphthalimide as the fluorophore and indomethacin as the targeting group. This H 2 S-sensing probe was developed to differentiate tumor cells from normal cells and was tested in living cells, Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans ), and zebrafish. The probe could successfully be used for imaging endogenous and exogenous H 2 S in living cells, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity and strong anti-interference. COX2-H 2 S had the ability to not only discern cancer cells from normal cells but also specifically recognize 9L/lacZ cells from other glioblastoma cells (U87-MG and LN229). It could also be successfully applied for the fluorescent live imaging of H 2 S in both C. elegans and zebrafish. A novel H 2 S-activated cancer-specific fluorescent probe COX2-H 2 S was rationally developed, with naphthalimide as the fluorophore and indomethacin as the targeting unit, for the imaging determination of H 2 S in living cells, C. elegans , and zebrafish.