Recent Advances in Detection of Hydroxyl Radical by Responsive Fluorescence Nanoprobes

Hydroxyl radical (center dot OH), a highly reactive oxygen species (ROS), is assumed as one of the most aggressive free radicals. This radical has a detrimental impact on cells as it can react with different biological substrates leading to pathophysiological disorders, including inflammation, mitochondrion dysfunction, and cancer. Quantification of this free radical in-situ plays critical roles in early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of various disorders, like macrophage polarization and tumor cell development. Luminescence analysis using responsive probes has been an emerging and reliable technique for in-situ detection of various cellular ROS, and some recently developed center dot OH responsive nanoprobes have confirmed the association with cancer development. This paper aims to summarize the recent advances in the characterization of center dot OH in living organisms using responsive nanoprobes, covering the production, the sources of center dot OH, and biological function, especially in the development of related diseases followed by the discussion of luminescence nanoprobes for center dot OH detection. Hydroxyl radical (center dot OH), one of the most aggressive reactive oxygen species, plays essential roles in the development of various diseases. The review article summarizes the advancements in characterizing center dot OH in living organisms using responsive nanoprobes. Topics covered include the generation of center dot OH and its biological functions, followed by a discussion on luminescence nanoprobes designed for center dot OH detection. image