Fluorescent probes for imaging cellular oxidative processes

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The smart molecules developed in this research will enhance our look at cellular functions because they will fluoresce, or brighten, under certain conditions in the presence of certain chemicals. This will enable medical researchers to understand what is happening with particular cells and perhaps one day to locate the presence of certain diseases or even to prevent them. The types of biological chemicals that we will monitor with smart molecules are free radicals. Free radicals play a role in cell signaling which influences the way a cell performs. An accumulation of free radicals in a biological system can lead to oxidative stress, which can cause neurodegenerative diseases. The smart molecules will fluoresce in the presence of free radicals showing researchers their location. This will help us understand how a cell is performing and provide some insight as to to the role of free radicals in cells. Various smart molecules that cater to different biological systems, including mitochondria and neurons, will be developed. They then will be tested in live cells. It is hoped that the smart molecules developed will enable progress in biomedical research by providing new tools for molecular level understanding of cellular processes that will benefit all.