Microchemical Journal· 2026Q2
Smartphone-assisted ratiometric sensing of hydrogen sulfide for food freshness monitoring via an AIE-active coumarin probe
- 0citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A coumarin-based fluorescent probe (CMR-DCN) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics enables smartphone-assisted ratiometric sensing of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a biomarker for food spoilage, with a low detection limit of 0.7 μM.
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Key points
- A novel coumarin-based probe (CMR-DCN) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was designed for H2S detection.
- The probe provides a ratiometric response with a color shift from 585 nm to 480 nm upon H2S interaction.
- A low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.7 μM for H2S was achieved.
- A smartphone-based platform integrated with test strips allows for portable, instrument-free food spoilage monitoring.
- The probe demonstrated high specificity and was used for H2S bioimaging in living cells.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The development of robust, portable sensors for the real-time monitoring of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), a key volatile biomarker of protein degradation, is essential for evaluating food spoilage. Herein, we report the rational design of CMR-DCN, a coumarin-based donor-acceptor fluorescent probe featuring distinct aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. Overcoming the traditional aggregation-caused quenching effect, CMR-DCN maintains intense solid-state fluorescence, making it highly suitable for practical device fabrication. The sensing mechanism relies on the specific nucleophilic addition of H 2 S, which interrupts the probe's intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process. This interaction triggers a pronounced hypsochromic emission shift from 585 nm to 480 nm (99 vol% water fraction), providing a highly selective ratiometric response with a low limit of detection of 0.7 μM. To translate this molecular probe into a practical sensing device, we fabricated “smart” test strips integrated with a smartphone-based colorimetric (B/R channel) platform for portable, instrument-free analysis. This integrated platform successfully quantified gaseous H 2 S and visually monitored real-time spoilage in shrimp and beef samples with high reliability. Furthermore, because its dense AIE nanoaggregate state effectively suppresses cross-reactivity with oxidative interferents such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl), CMR-DCN was successfully deployed for the highly specific ratiometric bioimaging of exogenous and endogenous H 2 S in living cells. This work presents a robust molecular engineering strategy for AIE-active materials and delivers a versatile sensing platform for intelligent food packaging and advanced biological detection.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Microchemical Journal, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Biochemistry (Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology)
BiochemistryBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology