An off-on fluorescent probe based on maleimide for detecting thiols and its application for bioimaging

A novel off-on fluorescent probe containing binaphthalene fluorophore and maleimide binding group based on Michael addition reaction was synthesized and the probe displayed a more than 20-fold enhancement in fluorescence intensity selectively for Cys, Hcy and GSH over other amino acids in aqueous-DMSO media.