A novel fluorescent probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of cysteine and its application in cell imaging

A new fluorescent probe (ABPA) based on 1,8-naphthalimide, which designed on the "receptor(1)-fluorophore-spacer-receptor(2)" model and employed conjugated addition/cyclization sequence mechanism for Cys detection was reported. The probe shows high selectivity and sensitivity for cysteine (Cys) over other amino acids including the similar structured homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH). It displays a highly sensitive fluorescence emission to Cys with a detection limit of 0.12 mu M (S/N = 3), which is far below the normal level of Cys (30-200 mu M) in living cells. Furthermore, ABPA was successfully applied to bioimage intracellular Cys in living cells with low cytotoxicity. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.