A pyrene-based fluorescent probe for H2S detection and cellular imaging

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a significant reactive sulfur species (RSS) involved in various human diseases, also playing an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Thus, the development of an effective method for detecting H2S in mammalian cells is of great importance. In this study, we present the synthesis of a novel pyrene-based fluorescent probe, DPP, specifically designed for the selective detection of H2S. The DPP exhibits remarkable sensitivity, with a low detection limit of 0.63 mu M, and demonstrates high selectivity for H2S in the presence of various interfering species. Additionally, the probe has demonstrated rapid detection of H2S in less than 6 min. The detection mechanism was thoroughly validated using H-1 NMR, FT-IR, UV and fluorescence spectra. Moreover, the applicability of DPP was successfully demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo settings using HeLa cells, confirming its potential as a powerful tool for monitoring H2S in biological systems. Additionally, the probe exhibited excellent performance in detecting H2S in water samples and in paper strip-based assays, further highlighting its versatility and practical utility for environmental monitoring and on-site applications. [GRAPHICS]