A near-infrared fluorescent probe for detection of exogenous and endogenous hydrogen peroxide in vivo

Using α-ketoamide moiety as a sensing unit, a near-infrared fluorescent probe (DCHP) for H2O2 detection was developed. DCHP exhibited excellent in vitro selectivity for H2O2 over other interference species, including reactive oxygen species, ions and biothiols, with remarkable colorimetric and fluorescence changes being observed. In vivo imaging tests showed that DCHP successfully detected exogenous and endogenous H2O2 in living cells and C. elegans. Moreover, DCHP was utilized as an efficient NIR fluorescent tool to corroborate the accumulation of H2O2 during inflammation in zebrafish, which was cause by copper-induced neuromast damage. The inflammation-sensitive activation along with the promising optical properties highlight the potential of DCHP in future therapeutic treatment programs.