An ultra-fast illuminating fluorescent probe for monitoring formaldehyde in living cells, shiitake mushrooms, and indoors

An ultra-fast illuminating fluorescent formaldehyde (FA) probe (R6-FA) was designed and synthesized, and it exhibited a significant response to both FA in aqueous solution and as a gas. We have employed R6-FA not only to image FA in living cells, but also to detect FA in dried shiitake mushrooms and indoors for the first time, indicating its broad potential applications for monitoring FA in living systems, the food industry, and the environment.