A ratiometric fluorescent probe for monitoring trace hydrogen peroxide in food and living cell mitochondria

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) has a very important function in the environment and organisms. In this work, a new H 2 O 2 response fluorescent probe OPY-AE based on cyclohexyl-alkenylene-malononitrile structure unit with methylphenylborate as sensing group, was developed. Based on its structural characteristics, OPY-AE can realize color development and ratiometric fluorescence response to H 2 O 2 with good photostability, which enables the probe to achieve the desired level of accuracy in detecting H 2 O 2 . OPY-AE exhibits a relatively fast response rate (9 min) to H 2 O 2 , with a low detection limit of 0.11 μM, so it can be further applied to detect H 2 O 2 in food environments and cell mitochondria with high sensitivity and strong anti-interference ability. The residual H 2 O 2 in food can be quantitatively detected visually in situ through color change and fluorescence ratiometric change of OPY-AE . At the same time, OPY-AE is combined with a detection device as a low-cost and convenient detection tool for fast, visual and quantitative detection of H 2 O 2 in the environment. In addition, OPY-AE is used to realize in-situ tracking and imaging H 2 O 2 in A549 and HeLa cells mitochondria with high contrast and high sensitivity. • A ratiometric fluorescent probe for H 2 O 2 in food and living cell was developed. • The probe can detect H 2 O 2 with high selectivity and anti-interference. • The probe enables the quantitative detection of residual H 2 O 2 in food samples. • The probe can be fabricated into a detection device for on-site H 2 O 2 detection. • The probe has good biocompatibility allowing for monitoring H 2 O 2 in living cell.