Rapid and on-site detection of bisulfite via a NIR fluorescent probe: A case study on the emission wavelength of probes with different quinolinium as electron-withdrawing groups

Abstract

The emission of venenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) and its derivatives from industrial applications such as coking, transportation and food processing has caused great concern about public health and environmental quality. Probes that enable sensitivity and specificity to detect SO2 derivatives play a crucial role in its regulations and finally mitigating its environmental and health impacts, but fluorescent probes that can accurately, rapidly and on-site detect SO2 derivatives in foodstuffs and environmental systems rarely reported. Herein, a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe (ZTX) for the ratiometric response of bisulfite (HSO3−) was designed and synthesized by regulating the structure of high-performance HSO3− fluorescent probe SL previously reported by us based on structural analyses, theoretical calculations and related literature reports. The Michael addition reaction between the electronic-deficient C=C bond and HSO3– destroys ZTX's π-conjugation system and blocks its intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process, resulting in a significant fading of the fuchsia solution and the bluish-purple fluorescence turned light blue fluorescence. Fluorescent imaging of HSO3– in live animals utilizing ZTX has been demonstrated. The quantitative analysis of HSO3– in food samples using ZTXvia a smartphone has been also successfully implemented. Simultaneously, the ZTX-based test strips were utilized to quantificationally determine HSO3– in environmental water samples by a smartphone. Consequently, probe ZTX could provide a new method to understand the physiopathological roles of HSO3–, evaluate food safety and monitor environment, and is promising for broad applications.