Activatable Dual-Optical Molecular Probe for Bioimaging Superoxide Anion in Epilepsy

Abstract

Superoxide anion (O 2•− ) plays a pivotal role in the generation of other reactive oxygen species within the body and is closely linked to epilepsy. Despite this connection, achieving precise imaging of O 2•− during epilepsy pathology remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop an activatable molecular probe, CL-SA, to track the fluctuation of the level of O 2•− in epilepsy through simultaneous fluorescence imaging and chemiluminescence sensing. The developed probe CL-SA demonstrated its efficacy in imaging of O 2•− in neuronal cells, showcasing its dual optical imaging capability for O 2•− in vitro. Furthermore, CL-SA was successfully used to observe aberrantly expressed O 2•− in a mouse model of epilepsy. Overall, CL-SA provides us with a valuable tool for chemical and biomedical studies of O 2•− , promoting the investigation of O 2 •− fluctuations in epilepsy, as well as providing a reliable means to explore the diagnosis and therapy of epilepsy.