A FRET ratiometric fluorescent probe for detection of bisulfite in food: Insights into food quality and preservation.

BACKGROUND

Bisulfite (HSO3-) plays crucial roles in food safety and physiological health. In the food industry, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and its derivative bisulfite (HSO3-) are extensively employed as preservatives and bleaching agents. Nonetheless, overconsumption of bisulfite can present health hazards like asthma and potentially cancer. Within biological systems, bisulfite contributes to various vital physiological processes, such as regulating vasodilation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Therefore, precise measurement of bisulfite levels in food and biological samples is essential to ensure food safety and physiological health.

RESULTS

In this study, an innovative ratiometric fluorescent probe, (Z)-3-(4-(4-(7-(diethylamino)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbonyl)piperazine-1-yl)phenyl)-2-(pyridine-4-yl)acrylonitrile (CPP), enabling efficient detection of HSO3- in both food samples and living cells was successfully designed and synthesized. The probe realizes bisulfite recognition via a Förster resonance energy transfer ON-OFF mechanism, characterized by the quenching of orange fluorescence from the acceptor and the appearance of intense blue fluorescence from the donor aminocoumarin. The ratiometric fluorescence changes are detectable at 485 nm/605 nm, with a detection limit of 3.25 μM. The probe has been successfully utilized in a range of food samples to accurately quantify HSO3- content, offering important data for food safety monitoring. Additionally, the probe demonstrates the capability to reveal the dynamic distribution of HSO3- levels across different regions in both living cells and zebrafish.

SIGNIFICANCE: The development of this FRET-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for bisulfite detection offers a reliable method for accurately quantifying HSO3- levels in food samples, providing crucial data to enhance food production processes. Additionally, the probe can track the dynamic distribution of HSO3- in living cells and zebrafish, enabling deeper insights into cellular physiological and pathological mechanisms.