A phenothiazine and semi-cyanine based colorimetric and fluorescent probe for the rapid detection of hypochlorous acid

Abstract

As a significant reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypochlorous acid (HClO) plays a key role in the human immune system, ensuring the normal function of the organism. However, abnormal HClO levels have been linked to immune system disorders, neurodegenerative damage, and cancer. Therefore, rapid, and sensitive monitoring of HClO is important for the diagnosis of certain diseases. Here, we designed a probe XL for the detection of HClO in living cells, which is a mixture of phenothiazine and semi-cyanine. The probe XL is highly sensitive, selective and has an ultra-fast (<10 seconds) response to HClO in solution. The detection limit of probe XL for HClO was as low as 31 nM, and we also successfully used the test paper prepared with probe XL for the colorimetric fluorescence detection of HClO in real water samples. In addition, probe XL showed good response to both endogenous and exogenous HClO in cells. Finally, we successfully used probe XL for imaging HClO in zebrafish.