An Aggregation-Induced Fluorescence Probe for Detection H₂S and Its Application in Cell Imaging

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Chemical Biology
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a crucial regulator in physiological and pathological processes.
• Elevated H2S levels are linked to diseases like cancer, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, and diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel fluorescent probe for detecting endogenous hydrogen sulfide.
• To evaluate the probe's performance characteristics, including selectivity, response time, and detection limit.
• To investigate the probe's utility in biological samples, specifically within living cells.

Main Methods:

• Design and synthesis of a novel fluorescent probe (HND) utilizing aggregation-induced emission.
• Characterization of HND's sensing capabilities for H2S in PBS buffer.
• Mechanistic studies involving Job's plot, High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS), and Density Functional Theory (DFT).
• In vitro application of HND for H2S detection in HeLa cells.

Main Results:

• The developed probe, HND, demonstrated high selectivity and a rapid response time (1 minute) for H2S.
• HND achieved a low detection limit of 0.61 μM for H2S.
• The reaction mechanism between HND and H2S was elucidated through spectroscopic and computational analyses.
• HND was successfully applied for the detection of H2S in HeLa cells, showcasing its biological applicability.

Conclusions:

• A novel aggregation-induced emission fluorescent probe (HND) was successfully developed for sensitive and selective H2S detection.
• HND exhibits excellent performance metrics, including fast response and low detection limits, making it suitable for biological applications.
• The probe's successful application in HeLa cells highlights its potential for in vivo monitoring of H2S levels in disease research.