An ESIPT fluorescent probe for ultrarapid HClO detection during reagent-stimulated oxidative stress in cells and zebrafish

As a reliable signaling biomolecule for oxidative stress, the accurate hypochlorous acid (HClO) detection during agent-stimulated oxidative stress plays a vital role in pathological and physiological mechanism exploration for disease theranostics. Therefore, the development of robust analytical tools for HClO is highly significant. Herein we presented an ESIPT fluorescent probe ( MEBTA-Cl ) for HClO detection. MEBTA-Cl exhibited ultrarapid-response (around 6 s), high sensitivity (42-folds) and low detection limit (7.8 nM) toward HClO titration in solution. MEBTA-Cl was capable to detect both exo-/endogenous HClO in living cells. Moreover, MEBTA-Cl was successfully employed to monitor HClO level in acetaminophen (APAP), disulfiram (DSF) and doxorubicin (DOX)-stimulated oxidative stress. Importantly, using this useful probe, it was available to detect HClO in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and APAP treated zebrafish. In this work, an ultrarapid fluorescent probe, MEBTA-Cl , which possesses an ESIPT-based hydroxyphenylbenzothiazole (HBT) derivative as the fluorophore as well as an N, N-dimethylthiocarbamate (DMCT) group as the recognition group, has been prepared. MEBTA-Cl shows the sensitive and selective detection of HClO and a bright turn-on yellow fluorescence towards HClO (42-fold enhancement). Additionally, MEBTA-Cl could successfully be used to monitor the changes of HClO levels in living cells under lipopolysaccharides (LPS), acetaminophen (APAP), disulfiram (DSF) and doxorubicin (DOX) stimulation. Remarkably, it was capable to be employed in HClO detection in LPS and APAP-treated zebrafish. • An ESIPT fluorescent probe, MEBTA-Cl , for HClO detection has been synthesized. • MEBTA-Cl exhibited an ultrarapid response (around 6 s) for HClO detection. • It could be used to monitor HClO levels in living cells under reagent stimulation. • It was capable to be employed in HClO detection in zebrafish.