A Dual Response Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Hydrogen Polysulfides and Superoxide Anion Detectionin Cells and in Vivo

Abstract:

Intracellular reactive sulfur species playimportant roles in physiological and pathological processes. Emerging evidencessuggest that sulfane sulfur instead of H₂S is the actual signalingmolecule in these processes. Sulfane sulfur can be generated as a result of thereaction between O₂^•− and H₂S in mitochondria.Therefore, we develop a near-infrared mitochondria-targeting probe that allowsmultiresponse to O₂^•− and H₂S_nsuccessively for investigating this biosynthetic reaction. The probe exhibitshighly selective fluorescent response to O₂^•− and H₂S_nsuccessively in presence of potential biological interferants. Fluorescentimaging studies and flow cytometry analysis of RAW264.7 cells elaborate thatthe probe can be used to reveal the continuous process of O₂^•−burst and H₂S_n production in situ and in real-time. Themitochondria isolation indictes that the probe can specifically localize inmitochondria. Finally, the fluorescent probe has been successfully applied todetect O₂^•− and H₂S_n in mice.

A Dual Response Near-Infrared FluorescentProbe for Hydrogen Polysulfides and Superoxide Anion Detection in Cells and inVivo

Fabiao Yu, Min Gao, MengLi, Lingxin Chen, Biomaterials, Received 28 May 2015, Revised 4 June 2015,Accepted 6 June 2015, Available online 10 June 2015, doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.06.007