Activatable Dual-Optical Molecular Probe for Bioimaging Superoxide Anion in Epilepsy

Superoxide anion (O₂^•-) plays a pivotal role in the generation of other reactive oxygen species within the body and is closely linked to epilepsy. Despite this connection, achieving precise imaging of O₂^•- during epilepsy pathology remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop an activatable molecular probe, CL-SA, to track the fluctuation of the level of O₂^•- in epilepsy through simultaneous fluorescence imaging and chemiluminescence sensing. The developed probe CL-SA demonstrated its efficacy in imaging of O₂^•- in neuronal cells, showcasing its dual optical imaging capability for O₂^•- in vitro. Furthermore, CL-SA was successfully used to observe aberrantly expressed O₂^•- in a mouse model of epilepsy. Overall, CL-SA provides us with a valuable tool for chemical and biomedical studies of O₂^•-, promoting the investigation of O₂^•- fluctuations in epilepsy, as well as providing a reliable means to explore the diagnosis and therapy of epilepsy.