Rational Design of Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Zn2+ Imaging under Oxidative Stress in Cells

Abstract

Zn2+ is a vital ion for most of the physiological processes in the human body, and it usually has a mutual effect with oxidative stress that often occurs in pathological tissues. Detecting fluctuation of Zn2+ level in cells undergoing oxidative stress could be beneficial to understanding the relationship between them. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescent Zn2+ probe was rationally designed. The wavelength corresponding to the maximum fluorescence intensity bathometrically shifted from 620 nm to 650 nm after coordinating with Zn2+. The intensity ratio of two fluorescence channels changed significantly in cells treated by oxidative stress inducers. It was shown from the results that the labile zinc level was generally elevated under oxidative stress stimulated by various inducers.