A water-soluble copper(II) complex for the selective fluorescence detection of nitric oxide/nitroxyl and imaging in living cells

Abstract

A novel water-soluble copper(II) naphthalimide complex fluorescent probe was devised and displayed significant fluorescence turn-on response for nitric oxide and nitroxyl over other biologically relevant reactive oxygen species under physiological conditions. The dual-analyte recognition of this simple and sensitive probe was successfully applied for the imaging of exogenous and endogenous NO and HNO in living cells. Turn it on! A water-soluble copper(II) complex was prepared that displays impressive fluorescence response for nitric oxide and nitroxyl over other biologically relevant reactive species under physiological conditions. This sensor system was also used to image exogenous and endogenous NO and HNO in live cells (see figure). © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.