A Bioluminescent Probe for Detecting Norepinephrine in Vivo

Abstract

As a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine (NE) is critical for psychiatric conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, and pheochromocytoma. A real-time and noninvasive method for the detection of NE as a tracer to investigate the NE-relevant disease treatment process is urgently desirable. Herein, we successfully developed a turn-on NE bioluminescent probe (NBP), which was grounded on p-toluenethiol deprotectrf by nucleophilic substitution. Compared with other analytes, the NBP exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity in vitro. More importantly, the NBP provides a promising strategy for in vivo imaging of NE in living animals with noninvasive visualization and real-time features.

Recent Applications and Future Perspectives of Chemiluminescent and Bioluminescent Imaging Technologies

“…A noninvasive approach was developed for detecting NE based on using p-toluene thiol as a recognition group for the selective determination of NE by nucleophilic substitution reaction. 119 In the in vitro study, the NE probe displayed reasonable sensitivity and specificity toward other interfering species including dopamine, GABA, and various amino acids, for instance, Ser, Lys, Cys, Thr, Hcy, and GSH. More significantly, the established probe was effectively used for imaging NE in transgenic mice, thus offering a prospective method for the noninvasive imaging and real-time monitoring of NE in living animals.…”

A Reaction-Based Ratiometric Bioluminescent Platform for Point-of-Care and Quantitative Detection Using a Smartphone

“…In addition to fluorescence, bioluminescence generated by luciferase-catalyzed oxidation of chemical substrates is an alternative for analytes detection in complex samples. , In comparison with fluorescence probes, the bioluminescent probes cause negligible background autofluorescence due to the elimination of external optical excitation, providing high signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity in detection. − Previous bioluminescent probes usually cage the bioluminescent substrates, such as luciferin and coelenterazine, with specific recognition units to form a prosubstrate, which can be oxidized by luciferase after reaction with targets. , Based on this strategy, many bioluminescent probes have achieved gratifying results in in vitro visual detection, bioimaging of diseases biomarkers, such as enzymes, − metal ions, , reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reactive sulfide species (RSS). − However, the signal intensity of the turn-on bioluminescent probes decays sharply with the consumption of substrate, which severely hinders their quantitative analysis in practical applications.…”

Real-time monitoring norepinephrine exocytosis by high K+via an endoplasmic reticulum-targeting fluorescent probe

“…[6][7][8] It has been proved that the decrease in NE level may be the primary cause of the occurrence of Parkinson's disease, anxiety disorder, and depression. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Therefore, exploring the production and physiological functions of NE in living system appears to be particularly important.…”

“…6–8 It has been proved that the decrease in NE level may be the primary cause of the occurrence of Parkinson's disease, anxiety disorder, and depression. 9–15 Therefore, exploring the production and physiological functions of NE in living system appears to be particularly important. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest and most vital organelle in eukaryotic cells and is involved in protein synthesis.…”