A cinnamic acid-based ratiometric fluorescence probe for detection of hypochlorite and its biological applications

As a well-known endogenous reactive oxygen species, hypochlorous acid (HClO) plays key role in body immunity and bacterial disinfection. Thus, it is a high demand for development an analytical method to detect ClO under physiological conditions. Herein, a novel ratiometric fluorescence probe HCP was developed based on p -hydroxycinnamic acid for detecting ClO . When ClO was present, probe HCP underwent an obviously fluorescence and colorimetric color changes, which can be observed by the “naked eye”. The probe HCP had remarkable selectivity, good sensitivity (99.31 nM) and rapid response (45 s) for monitoring ClO in a wide pH range (6.0–10.0). Furthermore, probe HCP had good biocompatibility and low toxicity. Imaging experiments demonstrated that probe HCP could be utilized to detect exogenous and endogenous ClO . In addition, HCP -paper strip was developed for real-time ClO monitoring.