A bifunctional fluorescent probe for dual-channel detection of H2O2 and HOCl in living cells

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) are critical reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play significant roles in regulating oxidative stress, closely tied to various human diseases. However, investigating their interplay within living cells has been challenging due to the lack of effective tools for simultaneous discrimination. Herein, we present a bifunctional fluorescent probe, PTZ-H-H, capable of simultaneously detecting H₂O₂ and HOCl in living cells via two distinct fluorescence channels. PTZ-H-H exhibits selective and sensitive responses, emitting red fluorescence in the presence of H₂O₂ and green fluorescence in response to HOCl, with detection limits of 386 nM and 16.8 nM, respectively. The probe was successfully applied in living cells, enabling real-time monitoring of intracellular H₂O₂ and HOCl. This study demonstrates the potential of PTZ-H-H as a powerful tool for exploring the dynamic roles of H₂O₂ and HOCl in various physiological and pathological processes.