A dual-color ESIPT-based probe for simultaneous detection of hydrogen sulfide and hydrazine

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and hydrazine (N₂H₄) are toxic compounds in environmental and living systems, and hydrogen sulfide is also an important signaling molecule. However, in the absence of dual-color probes capable of detecting both H₂S and N₂H₄, the ability to monitor the crosstalk of these substances is restricted. Herein, we developed an ESIPT-based dual-response fluorescent probe (BDM-DNP) for H₂S and N₂H₄ detection via dually responsive sites. The BDM-DNP possessed absorbing strength in the detection of H₂S and N₂H₄, with a large Stokes shift (156 nm for H₂S and 108 nm for N₂H₄), high selectivity and sensitivity, and good biocompatibility. Furthermore, BDM-DNP can be utilized for the detection of hydrogen sulfide and hydrazine in actual soil, and gaseous H₂S and N₂H₄ in environmental systems. Notably, BDM-DNP can detect H₂S and N₂H₄ in living cells for disease diagnosis and treatment evaluation.