An Anthracene Carboxamide-Based Fluorescent Probe for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Mitochondrial Hypochlorite in Living Cells.

Mitochondrial hypochlorite (ClO) plays important and often contradictory roles in maintaining the redox balance of mitochondria. Abnormal ClO levels can induce mitochondrial inactivation and further cause cell apoptosis. Herein, we have developed an anthracene carboxyimide-based fluorescent probe for imaging mitochondrial ClO in living cells. This probe exhibits some distinctive features as excellent resistance to photobleaching, high selectivity and sensitivity, as well as good water solubility. showed a noticeable fluorescence response toward ClO with a fast response (within 6 s) and a low detection limit (23 nM). Moreover, the introduction of triphenylphosphonium makes the probe soluble in water and selectively localizes to mitochondria. Furthermore, was successfully applied to image mitochondria ClO in living cells with low toxicity. Remarkably. the less used fluorophore anthracene carboxyimide exhibiting excellent photostability and desirable optical properties provides a promising application prospect in biological systems.