A mitochondria-targeted chemiluminescent probe for detection of hydrogen sulfide in cancer cells, human serum and <i>in vivo</i>

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as a critical messenger molecule plays vital roles in regular cell function. However, abnormal levels of H₂S, especially mitochondrial H₂S, are directly correlated with the formation of pathological states including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. Thus, monitoring fluxes of mitochondrial H₂S concentrations both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> with high selectivity and sensitivity is crucial. In this direction, herein we developed the first ever example of a mitochondria-targeted and H₂S-responsive new generation 1,2-dioxetane-based chemiluminescent probe (MCH). Chemiluminescent probes offer unique advantages compared to conventional fluorophores as they do not require external light irradiation to emit light. MCH exhibited a dramatic turn-on response in its luminescence signal upon reacting with H₂S with high selectivity. It was used to detect H₂S activity in different biological systems ranging from cancerous cells to human serum and tumor-bearing mice. We anticipate that MCH will pave the way for development of new organelle-targeted chemiluminescence agents towards imaging of different analytes in various biological models.