Instantaneous fluorescent probe for the specific detection of H2S

Abstract

Novel cyanine-based fluorescent probes for the detection of H₂S were developed. The probes developed are stable under physiological conditions. The water soluble fluorescent probe 2 displayed ultrafast and specific response to H₂S displaying NIR fluorescence of 115-fold turn-on with the detection limit of 11 nM without assistance of organic solvent or surfactant. Cell imaging experiments indicated that probe 2 was cell-permeable and was able to detect H₂S sensitively in lysosomes. Moreover, our probe was able to detect H₂S intrinsically produced H₂S through enzymatic/non-enzymatic biosynthetic pathway from Cys/GSH. Moreover, we applied probe 2 to detect H₂S in living mice and demonstrated the fast metabolism of H₂S. Thus, probe 2 shows great promise as a reporter for H₂S.

Keywords: Fluorescent probe; H(2)S; Lysosome-targeted.