Detection and application of hypochlorous acid in both aqueous environments and living organisms

The scarcity of water resources has raised concerns regarding drinking water safety. Excessive addition of hypochlorous acid (OCl−) as a disinfectant in drinking water can result in severe consequences. Moreover, abnormal levels of OCl− within the human body can lead to various diseases. Employing fluorescence analysis, the design and synthesis of specific fluorescent probes for simultaneous detection of OCl− in water environments and living organisms holds strategic significance in ensuring the safety of drinking water and mitigating potential risks caused by its abnormal concentrations. This article utilizes naphthalimide as a precursor to develop a novel probe enabling highly sensitive detection of OCl− in water environments and at the organelle level within living organisms. This endeavor serves to provide assurance for drinking water safety and offers health alerts.