Benzothiazole-based fluorescent sensor for hypochlorite detection and its application for biological imaging

We have developed a ratiometric fluorescent probe for hypochlorite detection with high selectivity and sensitivity. The probe 1 can rapidly turn into an oxidized form accompanied by the fluorescence changes from yellow to blue only upon the addition of hypochlorite among various reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The limit of detection was calculated to be as low as 8.9 nM, which showed good sensitivity to hypochlorite. Furthermore, the confocal laser scanning micrographs of HeLa cells confirmed good cell permeability of probe 1 and its application to selective detecting hypochlorite in living cells.