A selective fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide from a series of flavone derivatives and intracellular imaging.

Through the orthogonal design of two fluorophores and two recognition groups, a series of fluorescent probes were developed from the flavone derivatives for hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). The probe FlaN-DN stood out from the primarily screening on the selectivity and response intensities. Among the recent reported probes for the H 2 S detection, FlaN-DN indicated the most highlighted advantages including the rapid response (within 200 s) and the high response multiplication (over 100 folds). Moreover, FlaN-DN suggested practical capabilities including a wide linear range (0–400 μM), a relatively high sensitivity (limit of detection 0.13 μM), and high selectivity towards H 2 S. As a low cytotoxic probe, FlaN-DN achieved the imaging in living HeLa cells. FlaN-DN could detect the endogenous generation H 2 S and visualize the dose-dependent responses to the exogenous H 2 S level. [Display omitted] • A series of fluorescent probes for hydrogen sulfide developed from flavone derivatives. • Highlighted advantages including the rapid response within 200 s and the high response multiplication. • Practical capabilities including a wide linear range, a relatively high sensitivity, and high selectivity. • Achieveing the imaging of endogenous generation and exogenous H 2 S in living HeLa cells. In this work, through the orthogonal design of two fluorophores and two recognition groups, a series of fluorescent probes were developed from the flavone derivatives for hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). The probe FlaN-DN stood out from the primarily screening on the selectivity and response intensities. It could respond to H 2 S with both the chromogenic and fluorescent signals. Among the recent reported probes for the H 2 S detection, FlaN-DN indicated the most highlighted advantages including the rapid response (within 200 s) and the high response multiplication (over 100 folds). FlaN-DN was sensitive to the pH condition, thus could be applied to distinguish the cancer micro-environment. Moreover, FlaN-DN suggested practical capabilities including a wide linear range (0–400 μM), a relatively high sensitivity (limit of detection 0.13 μM), and high selectivity towards H 2 S. As a low cytotoxic probe, FlaN-DN achieved the imaging in living HeLa cells. FlaN-DN could detect the endogenous generation H 2 S and visualize the dose-dependent responses to the exogenous H 2 S level. This work provided a typical case of natural-sourced derivatives as functional implements, which might inspire the future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]