Novel fluorescence method for real-time monitoring of nitric oxide dynamics in nanoscale concentration

Fluorescent probes for real-time measurement of nitric oxide in living cells

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule in biology. Both NO excess and insufficiency have been implicated in numerous physiological and pathological conditions. In order to study the diverse biological roles of NO in cells and tissues, many techniques have been developed for assaying NO. Recently, new generations of fluorescent probes have become indispensible tools for the study of NO biology because of their sensitivity, selectivity, spatiotemporal resolution, and experimental feasibility. Rational application of these probes in the study requires the understanding of the molecular mechanism that the probes are involved in. In this review, we will present an arsenal of fluorescent probes used to detect NO in living cells and animal tissues. We will also discuss the molecular mechanisms, actualities and prospects of fluorescent probes in detecting NO in cell biology.

Stilbene Molecular Probes as Potential Materials for Bioengineering: Real Time Analysis of Antioxidants and Nitric Oxide, Immunoassay in Solution and Biomembranes Fluidity

A series of fluorescent methods of analysis and investigation of system based on the use of stilbenes and potentially important in biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, and biomedicine were proposed and developed. In these methods, two new types of stilbene molecular probes have been used: (i) fluorescent photochrome molecules and (ii) super molecules containing fluorescent and fluorescent quenching segments. These methods utilize the following photochemical and photophysical phenomena: the fluorescence and phosphorescence quenching, photochrome photoisomerization, and triplet–triplet and singlet–singlet energy transfer. The fluorescence properties of the new probes were intensively exploited as the basis of several methodologies that include a real-time analysis of nitric oxide, immunoassay in solution, investigation of molecular dynamics of biomembranes in a wide range characteristic times, and characterization of sensors for antibodies. These techniques may be adapted to fibro-optic sensoring.