Imaging and evaluation of sulfanesulfur in acute brain ischemia using a mitochondria-targeted near-infraredfluorescent probe

Min Gao【高敏】,^ac Rui Wang【王锐】,^a FabiaoYu【于法标】,^ab* Jinmao You【尤进茂】,^b Lingxin Chen【陈令新】^ab*

Ischemia is a pathological condition owing to the deficiency of blood supplyto a limited area of tissue. Ischemia can induce burst production of reactiveoxygen species and lead to oxidative damage. As a family member of reactivesulfur species, sulfane sulfur plays important physiological roles in manybiological events including synthesis of cofactors,modulation of enzyme activities, sulfuration of tRNA, and especially regulating the intracellular redox state. Wehypothesize that the endogenous level of sulfane sulfur will be adjusted todeal with ischemia-inducedoxidative damage. Therefore, the bioimaging of sulfanesulfur real-time changes during ischemia is important for better understanding itsphysiological processes. Herein, we describe the development of a mitochondria-targetedfluorescent probe Mito-SH that allowed for selective and sensitive detection of sulfanesulfur. Mito-SH is designed on the basis of the tautomerization of sulfanesulfur to thiosulfoxide, which ensures its high selectivity and sensitivity. A lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cationis selected as the mitochondria-targeted moiety, which can precisely navigateMito-SH into mitochondria. The emission profile of azo-BODIPY fluorophore locates at near-infrared region, whichdeeply penetrates tissue and effectively avoids the interference of biologicalbackground. Mito-SH exhibits the desirable combination of selectivity,sensitivity and excellent fluorescence response upon reaction with sulfane sulfurin cells. By employing Mito-SH, we evaluate the real-time sulfane sulfurdynamic changes under oxygen-glucose deprivation. Finally, Mito-SH has beensuccessfully used for imaging sulfane sulfur changes caused by acute ischemiain mice.

From the themed collection: Cancer Diagnostics

The article was first published on 05 Feb 2018
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2018, Accepted Manuscript
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C7TB03200E