Highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probes for superoxide, peroxynitrite, hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorous acid and peroxynitrite, are known to participate in important cellular processes including development, metabolism, immunity, carcinogenesis and neurodegeneration. To understand the precise role of a particular ROS in a cellular phenomenon, it is imperative to have selective and sensitive probes for each of those species. Through discovery of selective reactions to each of those ROS, we have developed several series of highly selective, and sensitive fluorescent probes (HKGreen/Yellow, HKSOX, HKOCl, HKPerox, and HKOH series) for the detection of specific ROS. The applicability of those probes in multiple platforms, including live cell confocal imaging, microplate assay, flow cytometry, tissue staining and in vivo zebrafish imaging, has been established, which opens up exciting opportunities for biological discoveries and therapeutic interventions.