A novel nopinone-based colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe for detection of bisulfite and its application in food and living cells

Abstract

A colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe DTF for HSO3− was synthesized from natural and renewable nopinone. The fluorescent probe DTF can quantitatively detect HSO3− with high selectivity, sensitivity and fast response time (60 s). The detection process was accompanied with the visible color change from yellow to colorless and the fluorescent color change from green to blue. The fluorescence intensity ratio (F430/F520) was linear with the concentration of HSO3− in the range of 0–80 μM, with a limit detection of 79.2 nM. The sensing mechanism was confirmed by 1H NMR and HRMS spectra. Above all, the novel fluorescent probe DTF was successfully applied to determine the concentration of HSO3− in food samples and HeLa cells.