Naphthalene-Derived Polynorbornenes Nanoaggregates for the Selective and Sensitive Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide in Environmental and Biological Samples.

H2S is a very rapidly acting, highly toxic gas that can produce rapid CNS and respiratory depression. A polyethylene-glycol-incorporated polymeric sensor (NNAP-peg-P) has been shown to have a rapid detection ability for H2S in the pure aqueous medium, where the monomeric sensor (NNAPM) shows H2S detection in (1:1) DMSO-H2O solvent medium (in PBS buffer pH 7.4) and outputs a yellowish fluorescence turn-on signal at 533 nm. Both NNAPM and NNAP-Peg-P show a specific fluorescence response toward H2S over anions, biothiols, and other amino acids in a neutral environment. NNAP-peg-P is exploited effectively for intracellular H2S detection and imaging through fluorescence microscopy, as it has no apparent cell toxicity and good membrane permeability. Its utility for imaging of H2S in living HeLa cells has been documented. NAP-peg-P has been used to prepare a paper strip for the in-field detection of H2S.