A fully-aqueous red-fluorescent probe for selective optical sensing of Hg2+ and its application in living cells. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pola, Murali Krishna; Ramakrishnam Raju, Mandapati V.; Lin, Chein-Ming; Putikam, Raghunath; Lin, Ming-Chang; Epperla, Chandra Prakash; Chang, Huan-Cheng; Chen, San-Yuan; Lin, Hong-Cheu
• Is Part Of: Dyes and pigments. Volume 130(2016)
• Page Start: 256
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Aqueous medium -- Push-pull chromophore -- ICT -- Living cell; Dyes and dyeing -- Periodicals; Pigments -- Periodicals; 667.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2016.03.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-7208

Abstract

Abstract: A new red-fluorescent mercury ion sensor material is designed and synthesized, which is composed of a tweezer-shaped hydrophilic probe containing bifurcated soft-base atoms N and S coupled with 2-dicyanomethylene-3-cyano-4, 5, 5-trimethyl-2, 5-dihydrofuran (TCF) unit. By virtue of the strong electron-accepting nature of TCF unit (as a push–pull chromophore), this designed sensor material can selectively detect Hg 2+ over various tested metal ions in a 100% aqueous medium via naked-eye and photoluminescence (PL) observations. Theoretical and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements further confirmed the selectivity and reversibility of the probe towards Hg 2+ via intramolocular charge transfer mechanism in this sensor material. Moreover, the living cell tests by confocal fluorescence images of this sensor material towards Hg 2+ were also investigated. Finally, distinguished absorption changes and fluorescence quenching spectral appearances allowed us to present the selective optical indicator of Hg 2+ via TCF moiety for the first time. Graphical abstract: Highlights: A water soluble and reversible Hg 2+ ion sensor probe is synthesized. This probe works as a colorimetric and naked-eye sensor towards Hg 2+ ion. A large blue shift is observed in absorption of the probe coordinated with Hg 2+ . This probe has the optical sensor potential to be used in living cell applications.