A mitochondria-targeted NIR fluorescence/photoacoustic dual-modality probe for highly sensitive and selective imaging of HClO in vivo

[Display omitted] •MB-ClO enables favorable NIRF/PA imaging of endogenous HClO in biological models.•MB-ClO exhibits ultra-sensitivity (LOD = 5.1 nM) and high-selectivity to HClO.•MB-ClO Exhibits excellent water solubility, mitochondrial-targeting, low toxicity.•MB-ClO enables NIRF/PA imaging of HClO in vitro with linear quantitative detection. Hypochlorous acid (HClO) represents a typical endogenous reactive oxygen species primarily generated within mitochondria, with excessive levels intimately linked to numerous pathological conditions. Consequently, the detection of mitochondrial HClO in vivo holds significant importance in the biomedical realm. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF)/photoacoustic (PA) dual-modality imaging techniques offer enhanced accuracy in biological imaging. Herein, a novel mitochondria-targeted NIRF/PA dual-modality probe (MB-ClO) has been designed and synthesized. MB-ClO exhibits remarkable selectivity, ultra-sensitivity (LOD = 5.1 nM) towards HClO, coupled with a swift fluorescence response (