Hydrogen peroxide detection with high specificity in living cells and inflamed tissues

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) detection in biological systems is of significant importance, which act as critical second messenger in fundamental biological processes. Here, we report on a chemoselective fluorescent naphthylimide peroxide probe (NPP) for the H 2 O 2 detection in vitro and in vivo. NPP is a phenylboronic acid-caged chromophore that selectively responds to H 2 O 2 through a self-immolate mechanism. NPP exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity to H 2 O 2 with distinctive fluorescence change due to the excellent two-photon excitation property, which permits the facile detection of inflammation produced H 2 O 2 and offers chance to monitor the inflammatory stages in diseased cells.