Detection of atherosclerosis-related hypochlorous acid produced in foam cells with a localized endoplasmic reticulum probe

We have synthesized a turn-on fluorescent probe, termed NB4OH, to detect cellular hypochlorite. NB4OH is mainly localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and detects ClO- in foam cells. The fluorescence change of the probe was explained by theoretical calculation as a PET process. The probe holds great promise for application in biomedical research, including atherosclerosis research.