A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for differential detection of HSO3- and ClO- and application in cell imaging and tumor recognition.

By connecting 1,8-naphthalimide and indole sulfonate, a ratio fluorescent probe capable of differential detection of hydrogen sulfite and hypochlorite was synthesized for the first time. It was able to achieve the qualitative detection of HSO3- and ClO- with high sensitivity and selectivity, respectively. It provides a multi-purpose probe and is based on different emission channels without mutual interference. The probe has the advantages of larger Stokes shift (ClO-: 115 nm, HSO3-: 88 nm), longer λem (ClO-: 515 nm, HSO3-: 548 nm) and better water solubility (DMF/PBS = 1:99, v/v). In addition, the probe is a ratio fluorescence probe, which can detect fluorescence intensity with two different emission waves. It provides internal self-calibration, reduces interference from the background and increases detection accuracy. In vitro cytotoxicity and imaging experiments show that the probe can effectively perform the detection of exogenous HSO3- and ClO- in cells. It can also achieve the detection of HSO3- and ClO- in the plasma environment. Because the probe can detect endogenous ClO-, it also has a good prospect for biological application in identifying tumor cells. Graphical abstract.