Construction of a mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe for monitoring hydrazine in soil samples and culture cells

Isoniazid and its major metabolite, hydrazine (N2H4), may interfere with mitochondrial function and have negative effects on cells. Consequently, an understanding of the role of N2H4 in mitochondria is highly desirable for protecting human health. Herein, we report a novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe (Mitro-N2H4) for N2H4 detection. Mitro-N2H4 exhibited an attenuation of green emission at 521 nm and an enhancement of yellow emission at 590 nm in the presence of N2H4 because of hydrazinolysis, indicating that it can be used as a ratiometric chemosensor for N2H4 with high selectivity and sensitivity. Such on-site monitoring of N2H4 vapour using test strips and N2H4-moistened soil analysis demonstrated its advantages in potential application for the convenient sensing of N2H4. Moreover, the rationally designed probe has many potential applications for imaging N2H4 produced in situ during the metabolism of isoniazid in living cells based on the ratio of the fluorescent signal.