A simple pyrene-hemicyanine fluorescent probe for colorimetric and ratiometric detection of SO_2 derivatives in the mitochondria of living cells and zebrafish in vivo

摘要

A new ratiometric fluorescent probeIPbased on pyrene-containing 1,2,3,3-tetramethyl-3H-indolium has been designed and synthesized for detecting SO2in aqueous environment. The probeIPexhibited a dual colorimetric and ratiometric response toward SO32−/HSO3−. It displayed high selectivity towards SO32−within 30 s with a detection limit of 15.1 nM. A Michael addition reaction was proposed for the sensing mechanism of this probe, which was confirmed using1H NMR,13C NMR and ESI–MS spectra. Moreover, the probeIPcould be applied to the mitochondria of HCC cells to detect SO32−through confocal fluorescence microscopy. Thus, this probeIPcould monitor the transfer of SO2in the mitochondria of living cells. Additionally, fluorescence imaging of SO32−in zebrafish was performed using the novel probe, suggesting its potential application in clinical diagnostics.