A unique colorimetric and ratiometric reversible fluorescent probe for HSO3−/H2O2 detection and imaging in real water samples, rice leaves and roots

A reversible colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe ( QG-Py ) was developed for HSO 3 − detection. The probe showed large changes in absorbance and emission wavelength shift both with 155 nm when reacted with NaHSO 3 . Furthermore, probe QG-Py exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to NaHSO 3 with quantitative analysis in real water samples through colorimetric and ratiometric methods. Interestingly, the reaction product ( QG-Py-SO 3 H ) displayed structural recovery to QG-Py induced by H 2 O 2 , accompanied with reversible optical properties . Probe QG-Py was established to visualize HSO 3 − /H 2 O 2 in MCF-7 cells. Importantly, QG-Py was also successfully applied for HSO 3 − /H 2 O 2 detection and imaging in rice roots and leaves, providing better understanding of the influence of SO 2 derivatives to crops, as well as a new and simple method for evaluating environmental pollution of SO 2 .