A unique colorimetric and ratiometric reversible fluorescent probe for HSO3- /H2O2 detection and imaging in real water samples, rice leaves and roots

A reversible colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe (QG-Py) was developed for HSO3 detection. The probe showed large changes in absorbance and emission wavelength shift both with 155 nm when reacted with NaHSO3. Furthermore, probe QG-Py exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to NaHSO3 with quantitative analysis in real water samples through colorimetric and ratiometric methods. Interestingly, the reaction product (QG-Py-SO3H) displayed structural recovery to QG-Py induced by H2O2, accompanied with reversible optical properties. Probe QG-Py was established to visualize HSO3-/H2O2 in MCF-7 cells. Importantly, QG-Py was also successfully applied for HSO3 /H2O2 detection and imaging in rice roots and leaves, providing better understanding of the influence of SO2 derivatives to crops, as well as a new and simple method for evaluating environmental pollution of SO2.

Automated summary

A reversible colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed for HSO3 detection. The probe showed high selectivity and sensitivity to NaHSO3 in real water samples. It was also successfully used for visualizing HSO3-/H2O2 and detecting HSO3/H2O2 in rice.