Sensitive determination of endogenous hydroxyl radical in live cell by a BODIPY based fluorescent probe

The sensitive and selective fluorescence probe for hydroxyl radical analysis is of significance because hydroxyl radical plays key roles in many physiological and pathological processes. In this work, a novel organic fluorescence molecular probe OHP for hydroxyl radical is synthesized by a two-step route. The probe employs 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (difluoroboron dipyrromethene, BODIPY) as the fluorophore and possesses relatively high fluorescence quantum yields (77.14%). Hydroxyl radical can rapidly react with the probe and quench the fluorescence in a good linear relationship (R²=0.9967). The limit of detection is determined to be as low as 11 nM. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the probe has a good stability against pH and light illumination, low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility. Cell culture experimental results show that the probe OHP is sensitive and selective for imaging and tracking endogenous hydroxyl radical in live cells.