A resorufin-based red-emitting fluorescent probe with high selectivity for tracking endogenous peroxynitrite in living cells and inflammatory mice

Peroxynitrite (ONOO−) plays essential roles on various physiological and pathological processes of living systems as a short-lived and highly reactive nitrogen (RNS) specie. The construction of novel long-wavelength fluorescent probes with high specificity towards ONOO− for imaging in vivo is still demand urgently. About this work, a novel resorufin-based red-emitting fluorescent probe for tracking ONOO− has been constructed. The probe RFP exhibited high selectivity towards ONOO− anion over other analytes. Utilizing the probe, ONOO− could be directly observed by the naked eye. Furthermore, RFP was successfully applied for imaging endogenous ONOO– in RAW264.7 cells and inflammatory mice. This work offers a convenient method for monitoring the intercellur ONOO– that be expected to be applied for explaining the bio-functional roles of ONOO− in living system.