Sulfur-based fluorescent probes for biological analysis: A review

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Small-molecule fluorescence detection is vital in research and industry due to sensitivity, selectivity, and real-time capabilities.
• Sulfur-containing fluorescent probes are increasingly important for detecting diverse biologically active species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of sulfur-based fluorescent probes published between 2017 and 2023.
• To analyze the design principles, recognition sites, and biological applications of these probes.
• To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of sulfur-based fluorescent probes and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications from 2017 to 2023 focusing on sulfur-based fluorescent probes.
• Classification of probes based on their recognition sites (e.g., thiocarbamyl, disulfide, thioether, sulfonyls, thiourea, sulfhydryl).
• Analysis of probe applications in detecting analytes like metal ions, reactive oxygen/sulfur/nitrogen species, and proteins.

Main Results:

• A wide array of recognition sites in sulfur-based probes enables the detection of diverse analytes.
• Sulfur probes demonstrate significant potential in various biological and chemical sensing applications.
• The review categorizes probes by recognition units, facilitating understanding of their substrate specificity.

Conclusions:

• Sulfur-based fluorescent probes are versatile tools with broad applicability in sensing.
• Understanding the structure-activity relationship is key to designing effective probes.
• Further research is needed to optimize probe performance and explore new applications.