Target-activated and ratiometric photochromic probe for "double-check" detection of toxic thiols in live cells

• 来源期刊: 中国科学:化学（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2019,（9）
• 页码范围: 1204-1212
• 页数: 9页
• 语种: 英文

摘要

Photochromic molecules can achieve reversible isomerization upon alternate light irradiations,which offers a great opportunity to improve the precision of analytes detection and imaging in complicated biological environments.Previous reported photochromic probe exhibited only mono-color switching and an initially fluorescence-ON state that may cause high background signal and impose an adverse impact on the desired sensing precision.To overcome this set-back,we developed a novel photochromic probe with an analyte-activation mode for ratiometric sensing of toxic thiols in both real water samples and live cells.The dynamic dual-fluorescence signal is released only after the fast and selective cleavage of the 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulfonate by the targeted thiophenol derivatives.Consequently,a "double-check" with synchronized dual-fluorescence blinking for analyte detection is successfully employed upon alternate light triggers with rapid response (k=7.2× 10-2 s-1),high sensitivity (LOD=6.1 nM) as well as selectivity of thiophenol derivatives over other common thiol species (e.g.,GSH,Cys and Hcy).The photochromic probe was successfully introduced to the fast and on-site detection of highly toxic thiophenols in real waste water samples.Moreover,by using confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometric analysis,the potential applications of this ratiometric photochromic probe for trace toxic thiol sensing in live cells are examined.