An acetate-based NIR fluorescent probe for selectively imaging of hydrogen peroxide in living cells and in vivo

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as an important biomolecule, is involved in various physiology and pathologic processes such as cellular signal transduction, host defense, and pathogen invasion. Thus, convenient and efficient detection of H2O2 in living organisms is of paramount significance and has drawn tremendous interest from researchers worldwide. In the present study, a novel H2O2-recognition moiety, the acetyl group, was proposed. Based on this unique recognition moiety, a new near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probe was designed and synthesized for detecting H2O2. With numerous advantages including high selectivity and sensitivity, good compatibility and low cytotoxicity, this probe not only has the great competence to monitor endogenous H2O2 in cells, tissues, and in vivo but also has the huge potentiality to be employed in the diagnosis of H2O2-related cancers.