A Hemicyanine-based dual function fluorescent probe for rapid detecting sulfur dioxide and viscosity in food sample and living cells.

Sulfur dioxide is a critical factor in evaluating food safety, as excessive intake can lead to various adverse reactions. Additionally, viscosity is a key indicator of food quality. However, to date, dual-response probes capable of detecting both viscosity and sulfur dioxide in food remain scarce. In this study, we present a novel fluorescent probe, BZID-OH, designed for the simultaneous detection of sulfur dioxide and viscosity in food. Moreover, BZID-OH is also effective for sulfur dioxide detection in living cells. These findings suggest that BZID-OH has the potential to serve as an effective dual-response fluorescent probe for monitoring both sulfur dioxide levels and viscosity in food, offering a valuable tool for food safety and quality assessment.