Recent Progress in Fluorescent Formaldehyde Detection Using Small Molecule Probes

Formaldehyde (FA, a typical reactive carbonyl species) is a well-known environmental pollutant and a disease-related biomarker, making its sensitive and selective detection significant. Fluorescent probes have been explored for FA perception in environment, intracellular media and in vivo. In this review, we majorly conclude the recently represented fluorescence FA analysis based on small molecule probes. The general FA sensing mechanisms are first introduced. Regarding the FA detection in various environments, sensing tactics and performances are discussed in order of natural environment, living cells and in vivo. In the end, this review discusses the challenges and future trends of FA detection based on fluorescent probes.