Red-emitting fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide detection and its applications in food freshness determination and in vivo bioimaging

We report the development of a red-emitting fluorescence probe ( XDS ) for hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) detection in biosystems, real-world food samples, and application of this probe for monitoring of H 2 S production during food spoilage. The XDS probe is developed by coupling of coumarin derivative to rhodanic-CN through a H 2 S responsive C C bond. Remarkable fluorescence quenching of XDS is observed as a result of the response to H 2 S. Semi-quantitative detection of H 2 S in three real-world water and two beer samples and monitoring of H 2 S production during food spoilage in real-time by “naked-eye” and smartphone colorimetric analysis are then achieved using XDS as the probe. Moreover, XDS is low toxicity, allowing it being used for visualizing endogenous and exogenous H 2 S in vivo in a mouse model. It is expected that the successful development of XDS could provide an effective tool for investigating the roles of H 2 S in biomedical system and for future food safety evaluation.