A dual-channel fluorescent probe for independent or sequential detection of H₂S and HClO

Maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis is critically important for living organisms. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and hypochlorous acid (HClO) are representative members of reactive sulfur species and reactive oxygen species, respectively, and their interactions and interconversions are crucial to various physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, monitoring H₂S and HClO simultaneously is more helpful to understand their regulatory mechanisms in complex physiological and pathological processes than detecting a species alone. This study reports a dual-channel fluorescent probe, DC-MB, for the detection of H₂S and HClO. The probe exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity, enabling the independent and sequential detection of H₂S and HClO in two distinct channels without mutual interference. In addition, the probe shows low cytotoxicity and successful application to the detection of both endogenous and exogenous H₂S/HClO in living cells. These results demonstrate the potential of the probe in biological imaging.