A Golgi-targeted AIE-active probe for monitoring peroxynitrite and viscosity during drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) has gradually become a major biosafety issue which can lead to acute liver failure. The process of liver injury, leads to an elevation of the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as peroxynitrite (ONOO – ), and simultaneously to an increase in intracellular viscosity. Herein, a novel coumarin-based probe ( E )-2-cyano-2-(7-(diethylamino)-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-ylidene)-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl) acetamide ( COUPY-SA ) exhibiting aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has been developed to detect ONOO – and viscosity by means of dual fluorescence channels. COUPY-SA exhibited ratiometric fluorescence signals for ONOO – with fast response and low detection limit. The probe has been used to simultaneously monitor the fluctuations of viscosity and ONOO – in cells, zebrafish and tissues, and the observations indicate that an over-expression of ONOO – can cause the elevation of viscosity in both living cells and zebrafish. Above all, COUPY-SA exhibits great promise as a tool to help understand the progression of DILI. • A COUPY-based fluorescent probe with AIE effect was developed. • The probe can detect ONOO – and viscosity by means of dual fluorescence channels. • The probe can monitor the fluctuations of ONOO – and viscosity in vivo . • The probe can be used for monitoring the Cd 2+ -induced variation of ONOO⁻ levels in plants.