Visualization of endogenous and exogenous hydrogen peroxide using a lysosome-targetable fluorescent probe

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play crucial roles in diverse physiological processes; therefore, the efficient detection of ROS is very crucial. In this study, we report a boronate-based hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) probe having naphthalimide fluorophore. This probe also contained a morpholine moiety as a directing group for lysosome. The recognition property indicated that the probe exhibited high selectivity towards H₂O₂ not only in the solution but also in the living cells. Furthermore, it was used to monitor the level of endogenous and exogenous H₂O₂. These results support that the probe can function as an efficient indicator to detect H₂O₂.