Dual signaling molecule sensor for rapid detection of hydrogen sulfide based on modified tetraphenylethylene.

A dual signaling molecule sensor has received increasing attention owing to its ability to read out target analytes with more than one transduction channel and thus make the results more convincing. Here we have developed a dual signaling molecule sensor that is well suited for monitoring hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels through fluorescence, UV-visible adsorption, and visual mode. Results showed the selective and instantaneous responses of sensor toward intracellular H2S. Moreover, the sensor was successfully applied to imaging of H2S levels in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and observed the changes of H2S under starvation of C. elegans. Altogether, the sensor was proved to be a useful tool for tracking H2S levels in cells and in vivo. The merits of two kinds of independent signaling molecules allow us to select different output modes according to the different samples.