Engineering a mitochondria-targeted fluorescent probe with long wavelength for rapid detection of H2S in beer, water and living cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved in the regulatory mechanisms of the human physiological system, it can also have adverse effects on the environment and food, resulting in health hazards. In this study, a novel fluorescent probe HMTI ((E)-2-(4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxystyryl)-3-methylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium iodide)) for the discrimination of H2S was designed and synthesized. HMTI showed fluorescence signal quenching at 622 nm of long wavelength, fast response to H2S (30 s), low limit of detection (LOD = 99.68 nM), excellent ability of specific recognition and anti-interference. In addition, probe HMTI not only could be capable of detecting H2S in environmental water samples and beer, but also untilized for exogenous and endogenous H2S imaging in living cells and effectively targeting mitochondria. Collectively, these results laid the foundation for the successful development of a sensor that could be applicable for monitoring H2S in the environment, food and living cells.