A Highly Sensitive Near-infrared Organic Fluorescent Probe for Peroxynitrite Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease Model Mouse Brain

doi:10.1007/s40242-026-5196-z

Abstract

Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, whose pathogenesis is closely associated with oxidative stress. As a key biomarker of oxidative stress, peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) plays a critical role in the onset and progression of AD. Consequently, developing efficient tools for ONOO^- detection is crucial for the early diagnosis and pathological investigation of AD. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe, termed CNOP, for the specific recognition and detection of ONOO^-. The probe demonstrated excellent optical responses to ONOO^-, including high selectivity, outstanding sensitivity (with a detection limit in the nmol/L range), a large Stokes shift, and notably, a significant NIR fluorescence enhancement exceeding 300-fold. Leveraging these superior analytical properties, we successfully applied CNOP for the NIR fluorescence imaging of ONOO^- in both live cells and the brains of AD model mice. The imaging results clearly revealed a markedly elevated level of ONOO^- in the AD model mice brain compared to that of the wild-type control group, highlighting the probe's considerable potential for application in AD pathological research.

Key words: Fluorescent probe, Near-infrared, Large Stokes shift, Peroxynitrite, Alzheimer's disease

ZHANG Wenjing, HAN Yujie, CHAN Chenming, ZHANG Qi-Wei. A Highly Sensitive Near-infrared Organic Fluorescent Probe for Peroxynitrite Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease Model Mouse Brain[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2026, 42(2): 456-462.

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