A new dicyanoisophorone-based ratiometric and colorimetric near-infrared fluorescent probe for specifically detecting hypochlorite and its bioimaging on a model of acute inflammation

To explore how hypochlorous acid (HClO) affects human health, a highly sensitive, selective, and trace detection method for hypochlorite (ClO-) is crucial for determining its non-negligible function in both environment and living systems. Herein, a dicyanoisophorone-phenylboronic acid-based novel ratiometric near-infrared fluorescent probe (Probe 1) was designed for the rapid and specific detection of ClO- based on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. Excess addition of HClO to the Probe 1 solution, 186-times ratio (I652/I582) augment were gained. And this probe provided a colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence response to ClO- with a high selectivity, a rapid response (within 30 s), and had an extremely low detection limit (15.7 nM). In addition, owing to the good sensing properties and low cytotoxicity of Probe 1, it can be used to expediently visualize exogenous ClO- in HepG2 cells and endogenous ClO- in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Furthermore, the probe was successfully used for the bioimaging of zebrafish with an acute inflammation. Thus, Probe 1 is a promising vehicle to identify the level of HClO in animals with associated diseases.