Dual-responsive fluorescent probe with well-separated emission channels for monitoring peroxynitrite and viscosity

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), induced by drugs or their metabolites, is a significant public health concern. Significantly, the progression of DILI has been closely associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly peroxynitrite (ONOO – ), as well as alterations in the cellular microenvironment. This study introduces a NIR-active fluorescent probe, MCMDC , designed on a chromene-furancarbonitrile backbone for the dual-response of ONOO − and viscosity through two well-separated channels. MCMDC is sensitive to viscosity with an enhanced fluorescence signal and responds to ONOO⁻ via an effective ratiometric sensing mechanism. It should be noted that the emission wavelength for viscosity (670 nm) and ONOO⁻ (485 nm) exhibit a large difference (185 nm), which provides two well-separated fluorescence response channels for ONOO⁻ and viscosity detection in living cells and zebrafish. In addition, probe MCMDC has been used to effectively monitor the progression of APAP-induced liver injury and for tracing ONOO⁻ generation in Arabidopsis thaliana under Cd 2+ stress. As such, we envision that probe MCMDC represents a useful sensor for advancing the understanding of DILI pathogenesis.