Naphthalene-Derived Polynorbornenes Nanoaggregates for the Selective and Sensitive Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide in Environmental and Biological Samples

H₂S is a very rapidly acting, highly toxic gas that can produce rapid CNS and respiratory depression. A polyethylene-glycol-incorporated polymeric sensor (NNAP-peg-P) has been shown to have a rapid detection ability for H₂S in the pure aqueous medium, where the monomeric sensor (NNAPM) shows H₂S detection in (1:1) DMSO-H₂O solvent medium (in PBS buffer pH 7.4) and outputs a yellowish fluorescence turn-on signal at 533 nm. Both NNAPM and NNAP-Peg-P show a specific fluorescence response toward H₂S over anions, biothiols, and other amino acids in a neutral environment. NNAP-peg-P is exploited effectively for intracellular H₂S detection and imaging through fluorescence microscopy, as it has no apparent cell toxicity and good membrane permeability. Its utility for imaging of H₂S in living HeLa cells has been documented. NAP-peg-P has been used to prepare a paper strip for the in-field detection of H₂S.