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.