A highly sensitive naphthalimide based fluorescent turn-on sensor for H2S and its bio-imaging applications

A novel fluorescent sensor based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) for detecting the H2S ion has been successfully designed and developed. The H2S amount was determined using a sensor probe of 6-azido-2-(pyri-din-2-ylmethyl)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (NPN-N-3) with high selectivity. The fluorescence in-tensity ratio of NPN-N-3 was shown to be linearly related to the concentration of H2S, with a LOD of 1.2 mu M. Besides that, there was an apparent fluorescent colour changes from colorless to green. Fluorescence bio-imaging with various emission channels could be used with the current sensor probe to detect H2S ions in living cells. The real-time application of H2S was proved by test strip experiments.

Automated summary

A novel fluorescent sensor based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) has been designed and developed for detecting H2S ions. The fluorescence intensity of the sensor is linearly related to the concentration of H2S and it has high selectivity. It can be used for fluorescence bio-imaging in living cells.