Colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent detection of carbon monoxide in air, aqueous solution, and living cells by a naphthalimide-based probe

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO), a highly toxic gas, is now well known as an important gasotransmitter in living systems. Accordingly, development of fluorescent probes for CO is of great significance. However, fluorescent detection of CO in living systems is challenging due to the lack of effective probes, and particularly, ratiometric fluorescent probes for CO have not yet been reported. In this article, a readily available colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe system for CO was reported. This probe system shows excellent sensing properties for CO including rapid response, high selectivity and sensitivity with a low detection limit (58nM), and capable of giving distinct colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent signal changes for CO in aqueous solution under mild conditions. In addition, this probe system has low cytotoxicity and can be used to ratiometrically detect CO in living cells. Furthermore, a very convenient paper test strip system can be developed with this probe for visual detection of CO gas. Overall, this work provided a very promising probe for colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent detection of CO in air, aqueous solution, and living cells.