A versatile electrochemical, colorimetric, and visible light excitable turn-on fluorescent probe for stress-induced H2S detection

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) holds a distinct role in cell biology. Its level is intricately linked to the homeostasis of the biological environment, underscoring the significance of developing techniques capable of detecting H₂S in biological systems. A single probe that offers versatility across different detection techniques opens opportunities for advancements in sensing H₂S in various fields. A nitronaphthalimide derivative, NMO prepared using a simple synthetic protocol, has been studied as an electrochemical, colorimetric, and turn-on fluorescence probe for H₂S. NMO displayed a detection limit of 9.95 mM and 4.36 mM in the UV-visible and colorimetric studies, respectively, whereas the fluorometric and square wave techniques confirmed lower detection limits of 98.4 μM and 1.24 mM, correspondingly. Further, the real-time imaging of HEK293T cells using NMO during stress-induced autophagy is demonstrated.