A water-soluble fluorescence sensor with high specificity for detecting hydrazine in river water detection and A549 cell imaging

•We have developed a sensor that detects N2H4 in 99 % water environment referening drug molecular design methods.•A reasonable strategy for the construction of water-soluble fluorescent sensors was developed.•The measurement scope of this sensor is 0.28∼120μM, LOD = 1.22ppb.•Long stokes shift (91nm) can effectively eliminate the inherent bioluminescence interference in short wavelengths. Hydrazine is a serious hazard for humans; therefore, the detection of N2H4 is extremely important. In recent years, fluorescence sensing, which is a simple and efficient method, has attracted immense attention. Although sensors for hydrazine have been reported, only a few have successfully worked in almost pure water media, Therefore, organic cosolvents are required, however, they are known to interfere with the analysis of the real sample. Furthermore, a few currently known hydrazine sensors have emission wavelengths smaller than the size of the organism itself, thereby making it difficult to eliminate the inherent bioluminescence interference at short wavelengths. In order to solve these problems, we have developed a new type of water-soluble(LogP (Oct/buff) = 1.68, LogD7.4=-1.97), fluorescent, colorimetric sensor. This sensor is based on the ICT mechanism to specifically detect N2H4 in colorimetric and proportional modes (measurement scope is 0.28–120 μM, LOD = 1.22 ppb). In addition, it was successfully used to image A549 cells and detect hydrazine in river water samples and water vapor.