A Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe with a Large Stokes Shift for Detecting Hydrogen Sulfide in Environmental Waters, Wine Samples, and Living Systems

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is closely related to physiological diseases, environmental pollution, food safety, and plant growth. Herein, a new nopinone-based near-infrared fluorescent probe has been developed to detect H₂S with superior performance, including a large Stokes shift, low detection limit, good selectivity, and fast response time. NPD-H₂S was used to detect H₂S in environmental water and wine samples quantitatively. In addition, NPD-H₂S could be used to fabricate nanofiber membranes as a portable tool for sensitively detecting H₂S vapor using a smartphone. Moreover, NPD-H₂S has been effectively used to image H₂S in HeLa cells, MCF-7 cells, and zebrafish. More importantly, the probe monitored the presence of H₂S upregulation processes in Arabidopsis thaliana under salt stress by bioimaging. This work provides a concept for the intervention of external stresses in plant cultivation. Therefore, probe NPD-H₂S can effectively monitor the fluctuation of H₂S in the environment and living systems.