Consuming an excessive amount of sulfites can have detrimental effects on human health. Therefore, it is essential to develop an effective technique to detect the presence of HSO3− in food samples and live cells. Herein, we have developed a colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent probe PI capable of efficiently detecting sulfite/ bisulfite (SO32− /HSO3−) in aqueous PBS buffer (pH 7.4). This probe PI is non-fluorescent due to intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), but becomes fluorescent in the presence of HSO3−. The reaction between SO32− /HSO3− and the probe disrupts π - conjugation by a nucleophilic addition mechanism, resulting in the inhibition of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). This leads to changes in both the fluorescence and absorption spectra. The color of the probe PI changed from blue to colorless, making it easier to detect HSO3−with the naked eye. Our probe also demonstrates excellent sensitivity, selectivity, fast (reaction completed in 300 s), and a low limit of detection (LOD = 8.4 nM). Furthermore, it is effective in detecting levels of SO32− /HSO3− in water, sugar, and MDA-MB-231 live cancer cells.
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