Lysosome-targetable red-emitting ratiometric fluorescent probe for hypobromous acid imaging in living cells

Abstract As one of the most important reactive oxygen species, hypobromous acid (HOBr) has been reported to be linked to a large body of diseases. Although some limited of HOBr-selective probes have been designed, there was no probes reported capable of sensing of HOBr with lysosome-targetable ability and red-emitting ratiometric fluorescence. Herein, we presented a 1,8-naphthalimide-based fluorescent probe Lyso-NpSN for rapid detection of HOBr over a wide pH range with high selectivity over other reactive oxygen species and sensitivity, for the first time. Furthermore, the probe was found to be low cytotoxicity to cells and had enabled to visualize exogenous and endogenous HOBr in living cells.