Quantification and visualization of hydrogen peroxide in an ischemic model and serum samples from stroke patients using a reaction-based fluorescence sensor

Stroke is a cerebral vascular disease resulting in an imbalance of oxidative stress and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). As a significant member of the ROS family, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a potential biomarker candidate for stroke evaluation. Herein, we report a reaction-based fluorescent sensor, HYTZ-1, which showed selective fluorescent enhancement towards H2O2, to be successfully applied to visualize H2O2 in HeLa cells and C. elegans. In ischemic models, HYTZ-1 exhibited outstanding H2O2 imaging capabilities in mice brain tissue sections and demonstrated that hypoxia-ischemia could raise H2O2 concentration. Establishing standard curves facilitated quantitative detection in the peripheral serum of ischemic stroke patients. A relationship between H2O2 content, stroke severity, and patients’ age was discovered, proving the clinical potential of HYTZ-1 for future application.