A mitochondria-targeted deep-red cyclometalated iridium(III)-based probe for detection of hypochlorite in traumatic brain injury

发布时间：2026-05-14 发布者： 浏览次数：1

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Volume 465, 15 October 2026, 140121

A mitochondria-targeted deep-red cyclometalated iridium(III)-based probe for detection of hypochlorite in traumatic brain injury

Author links open overlay panelXiumei Song a e 1,Zhenkai Wang b c d 1,Anli Liu a c,Zhigang Niu a,Fabiao Yu c d,Gaonan Li a

• aKey Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage and Light Energy Conversion Materials of Haikou City, Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Energy Storage and Energy Conversion of Hainan Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China

• bThe Medical Laboratory Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Medical University Hainan Hospital), Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570311, China

• cNHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Engineering Research Center for Hainan Bio-Smart Materials and Bio-Medical Devices, Key Laboratory of Hainan Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, School of Life Sciences and Medical Technology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, China

• dKey Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Haikou Trauma, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China

• eAnalytical and Testing Center, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang 524048, China

Received 29 March 2026, Revised 26 April 2026, Accepted 4 May 2026, Available online 8 May 2026, Version of Record 13 May 2026.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.140121

Highlights

• •A mitochondria-targeted deep-red Ir(III) ClO⁻ probe.

  •OFF–ON activation via C=N oxidation mechanism.

• •Rapid (<3 min) and selective ClO⁻ detection.

• •Enables mitochondrial imaging in inflamed microglia.

• •Validated in vivo in a TBI mouse model.

• Abstract

Acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often accompanied by excessive mitochondrial hypochlorite (ClO−) production, which contributes to neuroinflammation and secondary damage. However, deep-red mitochondria-targeted probes validated for in vivo imaging in TBI models remain limited. In this study, we developed a mitochondria-targeted deep-red cyclometalated iridium(III) phosphorescent probe, Mito-Ir-HClO, for ClO− detection. The probe showed good photostability and long-lived luminescence, responded to ClO− within 3 min, and achieved a detection limit of 0.45 μM with satisfactory selectivity. Theoretical calculations combined with spectroscopic studies elucidate the sensing mechanism: the selective oxidation of the imine bond (CN) by ClO⁻ activates phosphorescence. Mito-Ir-HClO enabled imaging of mitochondrial ClO− in microglia (BV-2 and HMC3). Mito-Ir-HClO was further applied to in vivo imaging in a TBI mouse model, allowing dynamic visualization of mitochondrial ClO− changes during neuroinflammation. These results provide a useful strategy for the design of ClO− probes and support the application of this probe in visualizing ClO−-related changes in TBI.