Engineering a highly selective probe for ratiometric imaging of H(2)S(n) and revealing its signaling pathway in fatty liver disease

Hydrogen polysulfides (H(2)S(n), n > 1) have continuously been proved to act as important signal mediators in many physiological processes. However, the physiological role of H(2)S(n) and their signaling pathways in complex diseases, such as the most common liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), have not been elucidated due to lack of suitable tools for selective detection of intracellular H(2)S(n). Herein, we adopted a general and practical strategy including recognition site screening, construction of a ratiometric probe and self-assembly of nanoparticles, to significantly improve the probes' selectivity, photostability and biocompatibility. The ratiometric probe PPG-Np-RhPhCO selectively responds to H(2)S(n), avoiding interaction with biothiol and persulfide. Moreover, this probe was applied to image H(2)S(n) in NAFLD for the first time and reveal the H(2)S(n) generation pathways in the cell model of drug-treated NAFLD. The pathway of H(2)S(n) revealed by PPG-Np-RhPhCO provides significant insights into the roles of H(2)S(n) in NAFLD and future drug development.