Development of a BODIPY-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for hypochlorous acid and its application in living cells

• A novel probe for HOCl was synthesized and evaluated.
• HOCl-promoted rapid transduction of thioether to sulfoxide function.
• This probe features a fast and ratiometric detection.
• The probe works excellently within a pH range of 4–10.
• This probe can be employed to image endogenous HOCl generation.

A BODIPY-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for HOCl has been designed based on the transduction of thioether to sulfoxide function. This probe features a marked absorption and emission blue-shift upon the HOCl-promoted rapid transduction, enabling the highly selective and ratiometric detection. In addition, the probe works excellently within a wide pH range of 4–10, addressing the existing pH dependency issue. Living cells studies demonstrate that the probe is cell membrane permeable and can be employed successfully to image endogenous HOCl generation in macrophage cells.

A novel thiol-sulfoxide transduction based probe for HOCl was synthesized and evaluated. This probe features fast response, ratiometric detection and pH-independent sensing.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide