Fluorescent sensors for the detection of hydrazine in environmental and biological systems: Recent advances and future prospects

Being a widely used raw material in the manufacture of synthetic catalysts, agricultural chemicals and pharmaceutical products, hydrazine (N2H4) caused irreversible pollution to air, water and soil in our environment owing to its high toxic impact and massive use. In addition, during the metabolism process of certain drugs, such as isoniazid (INH), hydrazine can also be released, causing serious harm to human body. It has been proved by previous researches that hydrazine could cause several adverse effects, including the inhibition of molecular metabolism, mitochondrial oxidation and DNA damage. Thus, methods which could sensitively and selectively detect hydrazine in vivo and in vitro are in urgent need. Fluorescent sensors, a powerful tool for efficiently evaluating the hydrazine levels in environmental and living systems with minimal perturbation, were widely studied over the past few years. Since the number of the fluorescent sensors for hydrazine detection has grown rapidly, this review attempted to present a well-organized overview of existing design strategies for developing fluorescent sensors for hydrazine, including both reaction-based sensors and material-based sensors from 2011 to the present. The molecular structures, sensing mechanisms and applications of these sensors were emphatically classified and discussed. Moreover, the following prospects and challenges of this field were also provided. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.