Two-photon Fluorescent Sensors for Visual Detection of Abnormal Superoxide Anion in Diabetes Mice

Abstract As a byproduct of oxidative energy metabolism, superoxide anion ( O 2 • - ) is the vaunt-courier of various reactive oxygen species produced in the body. In addition, O 2 • - has also been testified to be the cell signaling intermediary participated in the physiological and pathological processes of diabetes. Diabetes, as a systemic metabolic disease that seriously harms human health, could cause mitochondrial dysfunction and aggravate the overproduction of ROS. Therefore, the development of effective methods to monitor O 2 • - in living cells and vivo is of practical significance for determining the occurrence and development of related diseases. Here, we developed a new two-photon fluorescent probe that could detect abnormal superoxide anion concentration in diabetes. The novel probe RDX was constructed with Rho as the red fluorescence emission platform and diphenylphosphiny as the superoxide anion response site, which showed high sensitivity, excellent selectivity and low toxicity. In addition, the enhancement of O 2 • - concentration in cells with different irritants was observed by one- and two-photon fluorescence imaging. Most of all, the probe was applied to image tissue and diabetic mice successfully.