A pyrene-based fluorescent probe for H₂S detection and cellular imaging

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a significant reactive sulfur species (RSS) involved in various human diseases, also playing an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Thus, the development of an effective method for detecting H₂S in mammalian cells is of great importance. In this study, we present the synthesis of a novel pyrene-based fluorescent probe, DPP, specifically designed for the selective detection of H₂S. The DPP exhibits remarkable sensitivity, with a low detection limit of 0.63 µM, and demonstrates high selectivity for H₂S in the presence of various interfering species. Additionally, the probe has demonstrated rapid detection of H₂S in less than 6 min. The detection mechanism was thoroughly validated using ¹H NMR, FT-IR, UV and fluorescence spectra. Moreover, the applicability of DPP was successfully demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo settings using HeLa cells, confirming its potential as a powerful tool for monitoring H₂S in biological systems. Additionally, the probe exhibited excellent performance in detecting H₂S in water samples and in paper strip-based assays, further highlighting its versatility and practical utility for environmental monitoring and on-site applications.