Novel thiomaleimide-based fluorescent probe with aggregation-induced emission for detecting H₂S

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) plays a critical role in various pathophysiological processes.
• Accurate monitoring of H₂S levels is essential for biological research and diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive detection of H₂S.
• To evaluate the probe's performance in biological samples and living cells.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a thiomaleimide-based compound (MAL-1) with aggregation-induced emission characteristics.
• Characterization of the probe's response to H₂S, including sensitivity, selectivity, and reaction kinetics.
• Assessment of the probe's cytotoxicity and its application in live-cell imaging.

Main Results:

• The MAL-1 probe exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity towards H₂S, with a low detection limit of 75 nM.
• The probe demonstrated a pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant of 9.65 × 10⁻² s⁻¹.
• MAL-1 showed low cytotoxicity and was successfully used to recognize H₂S in real samples and visualize intracellular H₂S in living cells.

Conclusions:

• The novel thiomaleimide-based probe MAL-1 is a promising tool for assessing intracellular H₂S levels.
• This probe offers a valuable method for H₂S detection in biological systems.
• The findings support the use of MAL-1 for advanced biological and biomedical applications.