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

• Novel fluorescent probe BZID-OH for dual sensing of SO 2 and viscosity in food/cells. • C C bond enables highly sensitive SO 2 detection (190 nM) via Michael addition and viscosity detection via TICT effect. • Successfully applied in real food samples for accurate SO 2 detection. • BZID-OH achieves 4-in-1 monitoring of SO 2 (exo/endo) & viscosity in cells/food, aiding in vivo studies & safety. 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.