A fast response and high sensitivity thiol fluorescent probe in living cells

Abstract

Up to date, the design of highly selective and fast response probes for Cys, Hcy, and GSH is still a challenge and very few examples have been reported so far. In this study, we synthesized a 1,8-naphthalimide-based probe bearing maleimide group to selectively detect thiol. After introduce thiol, the fluorescence intensity of probe showed significant enhancement, but other amino acids did not generate any change. The kinetic study showed that the reaction was complete within 120s for Cys, Hcy and GSH, indicating that probe reacts rapidly with thiol under the experimental conditions. Furthermore, the ability of probe to detect thiol in living cells via an enhancement of the fluorescence was proved.