A Highly Sensitive and Selective Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Detecting Peroxynitrite in Living Cells and Drosophila Brains

Peroxynitrite (ONOO−) is a highly reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that is closely associated with many physiological and pathological processes. In this study, we construct a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe, NAF-BN, that utilizes benzyl boronic acid ester for fluorescence quenching of naphthofluorescein cores. NAF-BN has been thoroughly evaluated for reliable imaging of exogenous ONOO− in living cells. Further, NAF-BN can be applied effectively to visualize ONOO− in Drosophila brains, confirming the hypothesis that neonicotinoid pesticides increase neurological damage and oxidative stress. The probe NAF-BN offers exciting potential to reveal the role of ONOO− in various biological and medical fields.