Sensitivity and Selectivity Analysis of Fluorescent Probes for Hydrogen Sulfide Detection

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂ S) is a gasotransmitter known to regulate physiological and pathological processes. Abnormal H₂ S levels have been associated with a range of conditions, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, cardiovascular and renal diseases, bacterial and viral infections, as well as cancer. Therefore, fast and sensitive H₂ S detection is of significant clinical importance. Fluorescent H₂ S probes hold great potential among the currently developed detection methods because of their high sensitivity, selectivity, and biocompatibility. However, many proposed probes do not provide a gold standard for proper use and selection. Consequently, issues arise when applying the probes in different conditions. Therefore, we systematically evaluated four commercially available probes (WSP-1, WSP-5, CAY, and P3), considering their detection range, sensitivity, selectivity, and performance in different environments. Furthermore, their capacity for endogenous H₂ S imaging in live cells was demonstrated.