A simple dual-channel imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-based fluorescent probe for the discrimination between Cys/Hcy and GSH

Abstract

A new dual-emission fluorescent probe 4-nitro-7-(4-(1-phenylimidazo [1,5-a]- pyridin-3-yl)phenoxy)benzo [c] (Yin et al., 2017; Jia et al., 2015; Chan et al., 2012) [1,2,5]oxadiazole (IP-NBD) with high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of cysteine (Cys)/homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH) was designed and synthesized. The probe, which exhibits low cytotoxicity and good cell penetration ability, can quickly detect Cys/Hcy with a detection limit as low as 140/180 nM, and has been successfully tested for Cys/Hcy and GSH in cells.