A fluorescent probe for rapid detection of thiols and imaging of thiols reducing repair and H2O2 oxidative stress cycles in living cells.

A diselenide containing fluorescent probe based on a fluorescein scaffold for thiols was developed. The fluorescent probe exhibited rapid response, high selectivity and reversibility. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the redox changes mediated by thiols and reactive oxygen species in living HeLa cells.