A mitochondria-targeting fluorescence turn-on probe for hypochlorite and its applications for in vivo imaging

•A new and high selective turn-on fluorescent sensor for ClO− in aqueous media was developed.•The sensor showed high specifity toward ClO− compared to other biological analytes and instantaneous response to ClO−.•The sensor was successfully applied to fluorescence imaging of mitochondrial ClO− in living cells.

We designed and synthesized a turn-on fluorescent probe which consists of meso-(4-pyridinyl)-substituted BODIPY as chromophore group and phenylboronic acid as sensing group by forming of cationic quaternary ammonium salt. It showed quite good water solubility and highly selective fluorescent response to hypochlorite against other interferences of ROS. Moreover, cellular application of the probe was successfully performed for the mitochondrial imaging of HepG 2 cells.

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