Comprehensive insights about accurate susceptibility detection towards hydrogen sulfide for food safety and disease diagnosis.

BACKGROUND

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is recognized as a colorless gas with a characteristic offensive odor, known both as a toxic environmental pollutant beyond certain thresholds and as the third endogenous gaseous signaling molecule in biological systems. It plays crucial roles in maintaining redox homeostasis and mediating various cytoprotective effects, thereby participating in multiple pHysiological and pathological processes. Meanwhile, H2S serves as a key volatile freshness biomarker in high-protein foods, where its accumulation correlates strongly with spoilage.

RESULTS

With the rapid advancement of fluorescence imaging technology, small-molecule fluorescent probes have emerged as one of the most powerful tools for visualizing biological signaling processes and monitoring food safety, owing to their non-invasiveness, high selectivity, and capacity for in situ, real-time detection. Real-time monitoring of H2S should be therefore essential for elucidating its pharmacological and patho-physiological mechanisms, also become imperative for food quality assessment. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the design strategies and response mechanisms of fluorescent probes for H2S detection in both biological and food matrices. We highlight the importance of developing novel probes capable of real-time imaging and accurate quantification of H2S in vivo, which will greatly facilitate the understanding of its functional roles and support early diagnosis of related diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the application of fluorescence-based assays in monitoring H2S generation in food samples, underscoring their practical utility in ensuring food safety.

SIGNIFICANCE: This systematic overview aims to provide valuable insights and guidance for the development of a new generation of fluorescent probes targeting H2S, with dual applications in biomedical research and food quality monitoring. All these endeavors will be beneficial to ensure food safety and accelerate the further investigations about disease diagnosis and pathological mechanism, thereby provide more new ideas and methods in the related disease therapy.