A fluorescent and colorimetric dual-recognition probe based on copper(II)-decorated carbon dots for detection of phosphate

In the present article, we report a novel fluorescent and colorimetric dual-signal sensing probe based on a CD-Cu²⁺ complex for the detection of the phosphate ion (Pi). The yellow fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CDs) were simply synthesized via one-step hydrothermal treatment of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) and 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The method was based on the combination of the CDs and Cu²⁺ to form a coordination complex. Pi can capture Cu²⁺ on the surface of CDs, which brings about two kinds of signal change through competitive complexation, including fluorescence and UV-vis absorption. The probe could detect the Pi with a linear range of 0.01-1 mM with a detection limit of 3.75 μM for the fluorescence signal and a linear range of 0.01-1 mM with a detection limit of 4.38 μM for the colorimetric signal. And the change in absorption signal can be used to visually detect Pi. Furthermore, the proposed sensing system was successfully applied to determine Pi in practical water samples.

Labile zinc-assisted biological phosphate chemosensing and related molecular logic gating interpretations

Herein, molecular fluorescence 'OFF-ON' behavior with aqueous addition of biological phosphate and Zn(2+) is studied with Zn(2)(slys)(2)Cl(2) [H(2)slys = 6-amino-2-{(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino}hexanoic acid], a fluorescent water-soluble complex, using various spectroscopic tools (e.g., (31)P NMR, UV-vis, emission, and CD spectroscopy) at the micromolar level. Adduct-dependent fluorescence intensity changes can be interpreted as a two-input (cation/anion) implication molecular logic gating system. A displacement study of PPi from the dizinc complex is also reported. Diphosphate and triphosphate addition/displacements were also studied. (31)P NMR spectroscopy shows gradual NMR peak shifts from bound ADP/GDP to free ADP/GDP with increasing [PPi]. In the emission spectrum, fluorescence quenching is shown: CD signal maxima decrease with addition of PPi. These displacement events are also tested with triphosphates (ATP, GTP), and their binding strength/displacement ability over ADP/GDP is quantified: PPi > ATP ≈ GTP (3.35 ± 0.77 × 10(4) M(-1) for PPi, 7.73 ± 1.79 × 10(3) M(-1) for ATP, 9.21 ± 2.88 × 10(3) M(-1) for GTP over 1·ADP). Many anions and cations were also screened for selectivity. Tubulin polymerization was assayed in the presence of 1 and its copper analogue which reflected a slight inhibition in polymerization.