Red-Emission Probe for Ratiometric Fluorescent Detection of Bisulfite and Its Application in Live Animals and Food Samples

Abstract

Key roles of bisulfite (HSO3-) in food quality assurance and human health necessitate a reliable analytical method for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of HSO3-. Herein, a new red-emitting ratiometric fluorescence probe, BIQ, is reported for sensitive and selective detection of HSO3- in food samples and live animals. Probe BIQ recognizes HSO3- via a 1,4-nucleophilic addition reaction. As a result of this specific reaction, emission intensities at 625 and 475 nm are dramatically changed, allowing the detection of HSO3- in a ratiometric fluorescence model in an aqueous solution. The obvious changes of solution color from pink to transparent and fluorescence color from rose-red to cyan allow the detection of HSO3- by naked eyes. Furthermore, probe BIQ has fast response in color and fluorescence (<2 min), excellent selectivity, and a low detection limit (0.29 μM), which enables its application in HSO3- detection in food samples and live organisms. The practical applications of probe BIQ are then demonstrated by the visualization of HSO3- in live animals (zebrafish and nude mouse) as well as the determination of HSO3- in white wine and sugar.