Near-infrared fluorescent chemodosimeter for real-time in vivo evaluation of H2S-release efficiency of prodrug.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a significant gasotransmitter. A deficiency in H2S might contribute to some serious diseases. The development of H2S drugs has received a great deal of attention. There is a pressing need for an effective method to evaluate H2S release efficiency, especially in in vivo evaluation. In this study, a highly sensitive and selective near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent chemodosimeter (NRh-N3) was synthesized for detecting H2S. Importantly, NRh-N3 was shown to be capable of visually monitoring H2S-release from the prodrug in vitro and in vivo.