Sensitivity and Selectivity Analysis of Fluorescent Probes for Hydrogen Sulfide Detection

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter known to regulate physiological and pathological processes. Abnormal H2S levels have been associated with a range of conditions, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, cardiovascular and renal diseases, bacterial and viral infections, as well as cancer. Therefore, fast and sensitive H2S detection is of significant clinical importance. Fluorescent H2S probes hold great potential among the currently developed detection methods because of their high sensitivity, selectivity, and biocompatibility. However, many proposed probes do not provide a gold standard for proper use and selection. Consequently, issues arise when applying the probes in different conditions. Therefore, we systematically evaluated four commercially available probes (WSP-1, WSP-5, CAY, and P3), considering their detection range, sensitivity, selectivity, and performance in different environments. Furthermore, their capacity for endogenous H2S imaging in live cells was demonstrated.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the performance of four commercially available fluorescent H2S probes and discusses their suitability in different environments. The results demonstrate the potential of these probes for imaging endogenous H2S in live cells, but also highlight issues in their use and selection.