A highly selective fluorescent probe for quantitative detection of hydrogen sulfide

Area of Science:

• Chemical Sensing
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a crucial signaling molecule with diverse physiological roles.
• Accurate detection of H2S is vital for understanding its biological functions and potential therapeutic applications.
• Existing detection methods often lack selectivity or sensitivity for H2S in complex biological matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for H2S detection.
• To investigate the probe's response mechanism and its ability to differentiate H2S from other biologically relevant thiols.
• To establish a quantitative method for H2S determination using the developed fluorescent probe.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a novel fluorescent probe utilizing the nucleophilic addition reaction of H2S with an electron-poor C=C double bond.
• Evaluation of probe selectivity against various analytes, including cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH).
• Spectroscopic analysis to establish the linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and H2S concentration in aqueous buffer solutions.

Main Results:

• The developed fluorescent probe demonstrated high selectivity for H2S over other thiols, attributed to steric factors.
• A clear linear correlation was observed between the probe's fluorescence intensity and Na2S concentrations ranging from 0 to 450 μM.
• The probe exhibited stable performance in aqueous buffer solutions at pH 7.4.

Conclusions:

• The acetyl benzimidazole derivative-based fluorescent probe provides a robust and reliable method for H2S detection.
• The probe's design offers a promising strategy for developing advanced fluorescent sensors for H2S determination.
• This methodology facilitates accurate quantification of H2S, aiding further research in biological and chemical fields.