Near-infrared fluorescent probes for detection of exogenous and endogenous hypochlorite in living cells

Hypochlorous acid (HClO)/hypochlorite (ClO−) play crucial roles in many physiological and pathological processes. Herein, two near-infrared fluorescent probe FDOCl-1 and FDOCl-2 were designed and synthesized for selective and sensitive detecting ClO−. The probe showed fast response (FDOCl-1: less than 50 s, FDOCl-2: less than 30 s), remarkable colorimetric change, excellent selectivity and sensitivity, low limit of detection (FDOCl-1: 53.5 nM, FDOCl-2: 31.7 nM) and good pH stability. Moreover, the probe FDOCl-2 could penetrate cell membranes, and was used to detect exogenous and endogenous ClO− in living HeLa cells and Caenorhabditis elegans. Thus, we suggest that our newly generated probe FDOCl-2 might have potential application in the rapid and sensitive detection of ClO− in vivo.