Mitochondria-targeted fluorescence probe for endogenous hypochlorite imaging in living cells and zebrafishs

A BODIPY-based mitochondria-targeted fluorescent probe (BODIPY-DMTC) was synthesized for selective determination of hypochlorite (ClO−) over other reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The phenolic hydroxyl protecting group dimethylthiocarbamates (DMTC) was introduced to BODIPY framework, specifically recognizing exogenous and endogenous ClO− by the “deprotection” of hydroxyl group. The response process was monitored in real-time by titration assays of mass spectra and 1H NMR. The emission response of probe to ClO− presented a good linear relationship in 0–100 μM concentration range, and the detection limit of 95 nM was observed. Also, the current probe was used to successfully visualize endogenous ClO− in zebrafish embryos.