Fluorescent nitric oxide probes and associated methods

Abstract

Nitric oxide probes including a compound represented by Formula, I, II, III, IV, V, VI or a combination thereof are provided. Methods of using these nitric oxide probes to detect nitric oxide are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nitric oxide probe comprising a compound represented by the following Formula I: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is an alkyl group or H, R 2  is H, CN, SO 3   − , sulfamoyl, alkyl substituted sulfamoyls, COO − , carbamoyl, alkyl substituted carbamoyls, R 3  is an alkyl group, and R 4  is an alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         2 . A nitric oxide probe comprising a compound represented by the following Formula III: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is an alkyl group or H, and R 2  is H, CN, SO 3   − , sulfamoyl, alkyl substituted sulfamoyls, COO − , carbamoyl, alkyl substituted carbamoyls . 
       
     
     
         3 . A nitric oxide probe comprising a compound represented by the following Formula IV: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is an alkyl group or H, and R 2  is H, CN, SO 3   − , sulfamoyl, alkyl substituted sulfamoyls, COO − , carbamoyl, alkyl substituted carbamoyls. 
       
     
     
         4 . A nitric oxide probe comprising a compound represented by the following Formula V: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is an alkyl group or H, R 2  is H, CN, SO 3   − , sulfamoyl, alkyl substituted sulfamoyls, COO − , carbamoyl, alkyl substituted carbamoyls, and R 3  is an alkyl group or H. 
       
     
     
         5 . A nitric oxide probe comprising a compound represented by the following Formula VI: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is an alkyl group or H, R 2  is H, CN, SO 3   − , sulfamoyl, alkyl substituted sulfamoyls, COO − , carbamoyl, alkyl substituted carbamoyls, and R 3  is an alkyl group or H. 
       
     
     
         6 . A method of detecting the presence of nitric oxide in a sample comprising:
 contacting a sample with any of the nitric oxide probes of  claims 1 - 5 ; and   detecting emitted fluorescence from the nitric oxide probe, wherein the emitted fluorescence indicates the presence of nitric oxide in the sample.