NIR fluorescent probe for dual-response viscosity and hydrogen sulfide and its application in Parkinson's disease model

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide is an essential gas signaling molecule in cells, internal conditions such as viscosity can affect the physiological and pathological functions of hydrogen sulfide. It has practical significance to detect the concentration of H2S under the condition of viscosity change. In our study, benzoindoles salt and N, N-dimethyl-4(thiophen-2-yl)-aniline were conjugated, thus the probe had potential NIR emission capability. When viscosity increased, N-dimethyl-4(thiophen-2-yl)-aniline as a molecular rotor could response viscosity changes with 740 nm stronger fluorescent emission, C = C linker could sensitively response H2S with a turn on blue emission. Above process endowed the probe with the characteristic of dual response. The probe was used to study hydrogen sulfide concentration under viscosity change in the vivo by bioimaging. Most importantly, the probe was successfully used to detect changes in viscosity in a model of Parkinson's disease (PC-12 cells treated with glutamate), and the result indicated viscosity and H2S both increase under Parkinson's disease. The probe will have potential value in the further clarification of the pathogenesis of PD and provide a tool for further understanding the physiological and pathological significance of viscosity and H2S.