NBD-Based Environment-Sensitive Fluorescent Probes for the Human Ether-a-Go-Go–Related Gene Potassium Channel

Three environment-sensitive probes were developed for the hERG channel based on the nitrobenzoxadiazole fluorophore herein. After careful evaluation, probes M1 and M3 were found to have a high affinity for imaging the hERG channel in the cell-based experiment. Compared with other fluorescent labeling technologies (such as fluorescent proteins), these probes afford a convenient and economical method to determine hERG channel in vitro and in cellulo . Therefore, these probes are expected to be applicable for usage in physiological and pathological studies of hERG channels and have the potential to establish a screening system for hERG channels.