Activatable Dual-Optical Molecular Probe for Bioimaging Superoxide Anion in Epilepsy

Superoxide anion (O2•–) plays a pivotal role in the generation of other reactive oxygen species within the body and is closely linked to epilepsy. Despite this connection, achieving precise imaging of O2•– during epilepsy pathology remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop an activatable molecular probe, CL-SA, to track the fluctuation of the level of O2•– in epilepsy through simultaneous fluorescence imaging and chemiluminescence sensing. The developed probe CL-SA demonstrated its efficacy in imaging of O2•– in neuronal cells, showcasing its dual optical imaging capability for O2•– in vitro. Furthermore, CL-SA was successfully used to observe aberrantly expressed O2•– in a mouse model of epilepsy. Overall, CL-SA provides us with a valuable tool for chemical and biomedical studies of O2•–, promoting the investigation of O2•– fluctuations in epilepsy, as well as providing a reliable means to explore the diagnosis and therapy of epilepsy.