Recent advances in reactive oxygen species measurement in biological systems

•Reactive oxygen species (ROS) as biological signaling molecules. •The use of redox sensitive fluorescent probes for the measurement of ROS. •Genetic approaches for in vitro ROS measurement. •The use of novel nanoprobes from ROS detection in cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an essential role in facilitating signal transduction processes within the cell. However, the precise details of the redox dynamics involved are not well understood. The generation of ROS is tightly controlled both spatially and temporally within the cell, making the study of ROS dynamics particularly difficult. In order to measure these dynamics, precise tools that can specifically examine the relevant ROS are required. Recent advancements in methodologies for ROS measurement have allowed the study of ROS biology at a level of precision previously unachievable. Here, we discuss improvements to fluorescent ROS dye technologies, genetically encoded ROS reporters, nanoparticle delivery systems, and nanotube ROS probes. These technologies improve specificity, localization and sensitivity over previously available ROS probes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an essential role in facilitating signal transduction processes within the cell. However, the precise details of the redox dynamics involved are not well understood. The generation of ROS is tightly controlled both spatially and temporally within the cell, making the study of ROS dynamics particularly difficult. In order to measure these dynamics, precise tools that can specifically examine the relevant ROS are required. Recent advancements in methodologies for ROS measurement have allowed the study of ROS biology at a level of precision previously unachievable. Here, we discuss improvements to fluorescent ROS dye technologies, genetically encoded ROS reporters, nanoparticle delivery systems, and nanotube ROS probes. These technologies improve specificity, localization and sensitivity over previously available ROS probes.