LAUSR

Key roles of bisulfite (HSO3–) in food quality assurance and human health necessitate a reliable analytical method for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of HSO3–. Herein, a new red-emitting ratiometric fluorescence probe, BIQ, is reported for sensitive and selective detection of HSO3– in food samples and live animals. Probe BIQ recognizes HSO3– via a 1,4-nucleophilic addition reaction. As a result of this specific reaction, emission intensities at 625 and 475 nm are dramatically changed, allowing the detection of HSO3– in a ratiometric fluorescence model in an aqueous solution. The obvious changes of solution color from pink to transparent and fluorescence color from rose-red to cyan allow the detection of HSO3– by naked eyes. Furthermore, probe BIQ has fast response in color and fluorescence (<2 min), excellent selectivity, and a low detection limit (0.29 μM), which enables its application in HSO3– detection in food samples and live organisms. The practical applications of probe BIQ are then demonstrated by the visualization of HSO3– in live animals (zebrafish and nude mouse) as well as the determination of HSO3– in white wine and sugar.