Electrochemical monitoring of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and redox balance in living cells

Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in cells and cell redox balance are of great interest in live cells as they are correlated to several pathological and physiological conditions of living cells. ROS and RNS detection is limited due to their spatially restricted abundance: they are usually located in sub-cellular areas (e.g., in specific organelles) at low concentration. In this work, we will review and highlight the electrochemical approach to this bio-analytical issue. Combining electrochemical methods and miniaturization strategies, specific, highly sensitive, time, and spatially resolved measurements of cellular oxidative stress and redox balance analysis are possible. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].