An AIE and ESIPT based neuraminidase fluorescent probe for influenza virus detection and imaging

Neuraminidase (NA), an important enzyme for influenza virus replication, is a main target for influenza virus inhibition and detection. In this work, the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-active neuraminidase fluorescent probe SABP was firstly developed for influenza virus detection. The probe SABP showed high sensitivity towards NA with strong green fluorescence, which could be used for influenza virus detection and living cell imaging. In the presence of NA, SABP exhibited increased fluorescence signal by up to 30-fold at 524 nm. SABP detected NA activity in the range 0–5.0 U/mL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.024 U/mL and detect influenza virus in the range of 2−4–26 HAU with a LOD of 2−1 HAU. Moreover, SABP was successfully applied to distinguish oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus from wild type.