An ICT-based fluorescent probe with a large Stokes shift for measuring hydrazine in biological and water samples

A water-soluble red-emitting fluorescence probe for detecting hazardous hydrazine in environmental waters and biosystems

Hydrazine (N2H4), a crucial chemical raw material, enhances people's lives and fosters human progress. Hydrazine usage or leakage has caused environmental contamination, affecting water, soil, and living beings. Hydrazine simultaneously presents a possible risk to human health due to its carcinogenic properties. Thus, quick and precise detection of hydrazine is crucial in environmental studies and biological contexts. We prepared a red-emitting fluorescence turn-on probe (XT-HZ) to detect hydrazine specifically. The probe has a low detecting limit for hydrazine (63 nM) with excitation wavelength at 570 nm and emission wavelength at 625 nm. Besides, the probe XT-HZ had excellent water solubility, high selectivity, and good sensitivity for detecting hydrazine. Finally, probe XT-HZ was applied in the imaging of N2H4 in living cells, zebrafish and environmental water samples.

Novel pyrrolidine-alkylamino-substituted dicyanoisophorone derivatives as near-infrared fluorescence probe for imaging β-amyloid in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

The formation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques is one of the key neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Near-infrared (NIR) probes show great potential for imaging of Aβ plaques in vivo and in vitro. Dicyanoisophorone (DCIP) based Aβ probes have attracted considerable attention due to their exceptional properties. However, DCIP probes still has some drawbacks, such as short emission wavelength (<650 nm) and low fluorescence intensity after binding to Aβ. It is clear that further modification is needed to improve their luminescence efficiency and sensitivity.

RESULTS

We designed and synthesize four novel pyrrolidine-alkylamino-substituted DCIP derivatives (6a-d) as imaging agents for β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates. Compound 6c responds better to Aβ aggregates than the other three compounds (6a, 6b and 6d) and its precursor DCIP. The calculated detection limit is to be as low as 0.23 μM. Compound 6c shows no cytotoxicity in the tested concentration for SH-SY5Y and HL-7702 cells. Additionally, compound 6c is successfully applied to monitor Aβ aggregates in live SH-SY5Y cells and APP/PS1 transgenic mice. The retention time in the transgenic mice brain is much longer than that of age-matched wild-type mice.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results indicates that compound 6c had an excellent ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and it could effectively distinguish APP/PS1 transgenic mice and wide-type mice. This represents its promising applications for Aβ detection in basic and biomedical research.

Recent Advances in Organic Small-Molecule Fluorescent Probes Based on Dicyanoisophorone Derivatives

Fluorescent probe technology holds great promise in the fields of environmental monitoring and clinical diagnosis due to its inherent advantages, including easy operation, reliable detection signals, fast analysis speed, and in situ imaging capabilities. In recent years, a wide range of fluorescent probes based on diverse fluorophores have been developed for the analysis and detection of various analytes, yielding significant achievement. Among these fluorophores, the dicyanoisophorone-based fluorophores have garnered significant attention. Dicyanoisoporone exhibits minimal fluorescence, yet possesses a robust electron-withdrawing capability, rendering it suitable for constructing of D-π-A structured fluorophores. Leveraging the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect, such fluorophores exhibit near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence emission with a large Stokes shift, thereby offering remarkable advantages in the design and development of NIR fluorescence probes. This review article primarily focus on small-molecule dicyanoisoporone-based probes from the past two years, elucidating their design strategies, detection performances, and applications. Additionally, we summarize current challenges while predicting future directions to provide valuable references for developing novel and advanced fluorescence probes based on dicyanoisoporone derivatives.

Synthesis and Application of Specific N2H4 Fluorescent Probes with AIE Effect Based on Pyrazole Structure

Two fluorescent probes, Y1-2 were synthesized from 2-acetonaphthone, 4-acetylbiphenyl, and phenyl hydrazine by Vilsmeier-Haack reaction and Knoevenagel condensation. Their recognition efficacies for N2H4 were tested by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. The recognition mechanism were studies by density-functional theory calculations, and the effect of pH on N2H4 recognition was also studied. The results showed that the probe Y1-2 has high selectivity and a low detection limit for N2H4, and the recognition of N2H4 can be accomplished at physiological pH. The probes have had obvious aggregation-induced luminescence effect, large Stokes shift, high sensitivity, and can be successfully applied to live cell imaging.

Development of an activatable Lysosome-targeted fluorescent probe for the detection of endogenous ONOO- levels

The liver plays a crucial role in several important processes in the human body, including metabolism, detoxification, and immune function. When the liver experiences acute injury, it can cause significant harm and requires prompt detection. Traditional biomarkers lack specificity and cannot detect changes in real-time, making them unsuitable for monitoring pathological processes. Recent studies have shown that acute liver injury (ALI) is closely related to oxidative stress, with peroxynitrite (ONOO-) being a vital byproduct of liver metabolism and become a critical biomarker for detecting liver damage. As a result, this research developed an activatable near-infrared fluorescent probe W-3a that can be used to detect endogenous ONOO- in a mouse model of ALI induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The probe has high selectivity and anti-interference ability, with a reaction time <10 min and a detection limit of 85 nM. It was successfully utilized in detecting endogenous ONOO- in cells and live imaging of ALI mice.

Nanozyme-Enhanced Electrochemical Biosensors: Mechanisms and Applications

Nanozymes, as innovative materials, have demonstrated remarkable potential in the field of electrochemical biosensors. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms and extensive practical applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors. First, the definition and characteristics of nanozymes are introduced, emphasizing their significant role in constructing efficient sensors. Subsequently, several common categories of nanozyme materials are delved into, including metal-based, carbon-based, metal-organic framework, and layered double hydroxide nanostructures, discussing their applications in electrochemical biosensors. Regarding their mechanisms, two key roles of nanozymes are particularly focused in electrochemical biosensors: selective enhancement and signal amplification, which crucially support the enhancement of sensor performance. In terms of practical applications, the widespread use of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors are showcased in various domains. From detecting biomolecules, pollutants, nucleic acids, proteins, to cells, providing robust means for high-sensitivity detection. Furthermore, insights into the future development of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors is provided, encompassing improvements and optimizations of nanozyme materials, innovative sensor design and integration, and the expansion of application fields through interdisciplinary collaboration. In conclusion, this article systematically presents the mechanisms and applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors, offering valuable references and prospects for research and development in this field.

Engineering a "turn-on" NIR fluorescent sensor-based hydroxyphenyl benzothiazole with a cinnamoyl unit for hydrazine and its environmental and in-vitro applications

Hydrazine (N2H4), a chemical compound widely used in various industrial applications, causes significant environmental and biological hazards. Therefore, it is crucial to develop methodologies for the visualization and real time tracking of N2H4. In this regard, we have constructed a novel near-infrared fluorescent probe (HBT-Cy) that can effectively detect N2H4 in various samples. HBT-Cy contains 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT), cinnamoyl (Cy), and pyridinium (Py) moieties. Importantly, HBT-Cy exhibits a rapid, selective, and highly sensitive response to N2H4. This response results in the release of HBT-Py and the generation of considerable colorimetric changes along with a significant NIR (near infrared) fluorescence signal, peaking at 685 nm. Advantages of this system include turn on NIR fluorescence with large Stokes shift, (approximately 171 nm), low limit of detection (LOD = 0.11 μM) and quantum yield (0.211). The probe with low cytotoxic behavior demonstrates strong NIR fluorescence imaging capabilities to visualize endogenous and exogenous N2H4 in live cells. This mitochondria-targetable probe shows effective subcellular localization. These results suggest that HBT-Cy is a valuable probe for tracking and investigating the behavior of N2H4 in biological systems and environmental samples.

Myricetin-based fluorescence probes with AIE and ESIPT properties for detection of hydrazine in the environment and fingerprinting

BACKGROUND

Hydrazine (N2H4) is a highly toxic and versatile chemical raw material, which poses a serious threat to the environment and human health when used in large quantities. However, the traditional methods for the detection of N2H4 have the disadvantages of time-consuming, complicated operation and expensive instruments. In contrast, fluorescence probes have many advantages, such as simple operation, high sensitivity, good selectivity, and fast response time. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a fluorescence probe that can rapidly and accurately detect the presence of N2H4 and monitor the changes in its concentration.

RESULTS

For this purpose, we designed and synthesized a series of myricetin fluorescence probes 3-(substituent group)-5,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxy. phenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (Myr-R) for N2H4 detection. In the presence of N2H4, the probe 5,7-dimethoxy-3-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzoate)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphen-yl). -4H-chr-omen-4-one (Myr-3) shows significant fluorescence changes, double emission properties and a large Stokes shift (183 nm), and exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity to N2H4 (The detection limit is 93 nM). Importantly, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of N2H4 in water, soil, and air can be accomplished using fluorescence, smartphone, and UV lamps coupled with Myr-3. In addition, Myr-3 can be used for monitoring and imaging intracellular N2H4. Meanwhile, the fluorophore 3-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one (Myr-Me) was applied to fingerprinting of different substrate materials due to the fact that it exhibits strong yellow fluorescence emission in the solid state and shows excellent contrast and high resolution.

SIGNIFICANCE

The probe Myr-3 is not only able to rapidly detect N2H4 in complex environments, but also can be used for imaging intracellular N2H4. In addition, the fluorophore Myr-Me can be used as an effective imaging agent for visual fingerprinting. These properties enable the probe Myr-3 and the fluorophore Myr-Me for a wide range of potential applications in related fields.

A responsive organic probe based photoelectrochemical sensor for hydrazine detection

This study developed a new photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for the detection of the hydrazine (N2H4, HZ) based on a donor-π-bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) configuration organic photoactive dye (Dye-HZ). The dye was covalently immobilized on an FTO/TiO2 (FTO: fluorine-doped tin oxide) substrate, resulting in a photoanode FTO/TiO2/Dye-HZ that exhibits a specific PEC response to N2H4. Hydrazine reacts with the acetyl group in the Dye-HZ molecule, leading to its removal and the formation of a hydroxy group. The hydroxy group dissociates a hydrogen ion, forming a phenoxide anion with strong electron-donating characteristics. As a result, the dye molecule exhibits a strong intramolecular charge transfer effect, significantly enhancing absorbance and photoelectric response under visible light irradiation, leading to a remarkable increase in photocurrent and enabling highly sensitive detection of hydrazine. Furthermore, the PEC sensor demonstrates excellent selectivity and can be applied for the detection of hydrazine in real water samples. This study presents an innovative PEC sensing approach for hydrazine based on responsive photoactive molecules, providing new insights for PEC detection of other environmental pollutants.

A dicyanoisophorone-based long-wavelength fluorescent probe for detection of cysteine in vitro and in vivo

In this research, an "off-on" long-wavelength fluorescent probe (DCMN-Cl) based on (E)-2-(3-(2-(6-hydroxynaphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene) malononitrile (DCMN) is designed and synthesized for cysteine (Cys) detection. DCMN-Cl exhibits a large Stokes shift (211 nm) and shows rapid response and high specificity to Cys. The fluorescence initensity at 635 nm reveals a good linear relationship with Cys concentration in the 0 to 50 μM range, and the detection limit is as low as 159 nM. The probe is also used for fluorescence imaging of Cys in cells and mice. Moreover, the probe provided visual evidence of Cu2+ and curcumin-induced intracellular Cys fluctuations.

Advances in Optical Probes for the Detection of Hydrazine in Environmental and Biological Systems

Hydrazine, as a crucial raw material in the fine chemical industry, plays an indispensable role in fuel, catalyst, pesticide and drug synthesis. Due to its good water solubility and high toxicity, hydrazine can cause irreparable damage to water and soil in the environment, and it can also be released by taking certain drugs, which brings potential risks to human health. Therefore, it is vital to develop a method that can specifically detect hydrazine in the environment and in vivo. As an effective analysis and detection tool, fluorescence probe has attracted extensive attention in recent years. In this review, we summarized and classified hydrazine fluorescence probes based on various reaction mechanisms, and discussed their structures and applications in the past ten years. At least, we briefly outline the challenges and prospects in this field.

Fluoranthene-terminated terpyridine ensemble for fluorescence light up and ratiometric chemical sensor for multi toxic metals

A novel π-electron rich fluoranthene embellished with a phenyl spacer and coupled with terpyridine (TS1) was developed through Diels-Alder reaction. Single crystal X-ray structure evidences the variations in dihedral angles between the fluoranthene and the phenyl unit responsible for development of non-coplanar interactions and stabilized by a wave-like molecular packing in the crystal lattice with weak π-π interaction of 4.125 Å. The peripheral terpyridine of TS1 endows an efficient binding with multiple metal ions by colorimetric and fluorometric methods. TS1 exhibits a ratiometric fluorescence response from sky blue to yellow colour upon the addition of Zn²⁺ ions with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 ppm. The other metal ions such as Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Fe²⁺ demonstrate fluorescence quenching behaviour with LODs of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.7 ppm, respectively. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) shows the variation in TS1 emission behaviour upon metal ions interaction and quantitatively discriminates the metal ion concentrations. TS1 conferred a visual colorimetric change from colourless to magenta, enabling naked-eye detection of Fe²⁺ and showing clear discrimination between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions for the real-time water samples. Furthermore, we have investigated the effect of TS1 in Zebrafish larvae/embryos and cytotoxicity in human urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma cells (UM-UC-3).

A near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for hydrazine and its application for gaseous sensing and cell imaging

Hydrazine (N₂H₄) is a widely used raw material in the chemical industry, but at the same time hydrazine has extremely high toxicity. Therefore, the development of efficient detection methods is crucial for monitoring hydrazine in the environment and evaluating the biological toxicity of hydrazine. This study reports a near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe (DCPBCl₂-Hz) for the detection of hydrazine by coupling a chlorine-substituted D-π-A fluorophore (DCPBCl₂) to the recognition group acetyl. Due to the halogen effect of chlorine substitution, the fluorophore has an elevated fluorescence efficiency and a lowered pKa value and is suitable for physiological pH conditions. Hydrazine can specifically react with the acetyl group of the fluorescent probe to release the fluorophore DCPBCl₂, so the fluorescence emission of the probe system significantly shifted from 490 nm to 660 nm. The fluorescent probe has many advantages, such as good selectivity, high sensitivity, large Stokes shift, and wide applicable pH range. The probe-loaded silica plates can realize convenient sensing gaseous hydrazine with content down to 1 ppm (mg/m³). Subsequently, DCPBCl₂-Hz was successfully applied to detect hydrazine in soils. In addition, the probe can also penetrate living cells and allow the visualization of intracellular hydrazine. It can be anticipated that probe DCPBCl₂-Hz will be a useful tool for sensing hydrazine in biological and environmental applications.

A portable paper-based testing device for fast and on-site determination of nitroxynil in food

Nitroxynil (NTX) is a common anthelmintic veterinary drug for the management of fascioliasis in food-producing sheep and cattle. Since excessive NTX residue in food can lead to several adverse side effects, such as allergic skin reaction and respiratory irritation, it is of great importance to develop an efficient analytical method for NTX determination. Herein, we report a simple fluorescent detection method based on a novel supramolecular probe capable of detecting NTX with a fast response (5 s), high sensitivity (107 nM), high selectivity, and acceptable anti-interference property. Moreover, the portable paper-based test strips were facilely prepared and successfully realized on-site determination of NTX in real edible animal products simply with the aid of a smartphone. To the best of our knowledge, this is the very first report on the portable detection of NTX. This study also provides a promising strategy for the fast and portable detection of analyte based on the host-guest system, which will lead to improved fluorescent probe design for food analysis.

A highly selective and sensitive ICT-based Cu2+ fluorescent probe and its application in bioimaging

Cu²⁺ is an essential trace element for the organism, but its excess can also cause irreversible damage to the organism. As such, a "Turn-Off" fluorescent probe DPAP for the specific detection of Cu²⁺ was successfully constructed. DPAP exhibits large Stokes shift (120 nm), fast reaction speed (1 min), low detection limit (15.2 nM), low toxicity, and good cell permeability. Cu²⁺ quenches the fluorescence of DPAP by blocking its intramolecular charge transfer process to achieve the detection of Cu²⁺ and has been confirmed by HRMS, ¹H NMR and DFT calculations. Excitingly, the five-cycle detection of Cu²⁺ and the successful recovery of trace Cu²⁺ in environmental water samples fully demonstrate the potential of DPAP for practical applications. In particular, DPAP can observe the distribution and translocation patterns of exogenous Cu²⁺ in HeLa cells and zebrafish in real-time. This research concept has offered important theoretical support for the study of the environmental behavior of heavy metal ions.

A reversible CHEF-based NIR fluorescent probe for sensing Hg2+ and its multiple application in environmental media and biological systems

Hg²⁺ poses a great threat to human health and the environment due to its bioaccumulation and permanent damage. Herein, a reversible CHEF-based near-infrared fluorescent probe 2-(3-((E)-4-((E)-4-(diethylamino)-2- hydroxybenzylidene)amino)styryl)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene)propanedinitrile (DHEY) capable of specifically recognizing Hg²⁺ was constructed. DHEY exhibits advantages of large Stokes shift (157 nm), excellent selectivity, high sensitivity (LOD = 3.2 μg/L), and fast response efficiency (<3 min). Interestingly, DHEY can also realize rapid and effective detection of Hg²⁺ after being recycled 7 times. The successful recovery of trace Hg²⁺ in different environmental water samples fully demonstrates the potential of DHEY for actual applications. In particular, DHEY enables real-time observation of the distribution and translocation pattern of exogenous Hg²⁺ in HeLa cells and zebrafish. This work provides important theoretical support for investigating the fate of heavy metal ions in the environment using fluorescence techniques.

A flavonol-derived fluorescent probe for highly specific and sensitive detection of hydrazine in actual environmental samples and living zebrafish

Hydrazine (N₂H₄) is a significant chemical reagent and widely applied in industrial field, which can bring potential risk to environmental safety and human health due to its high toxicity and potential carcinogenicity. In this paper, a flavonol-derived fluorescent probe named TB-N₂H₄ was rationally developed for detecting N₂H₄ based on the excited intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) principle. TB-N₂H₄ exhibited a remarkable fluorescence turn-on response toward N₂H₄ with a large Stokes shift of 191 nm. Moreover, TB-N₂H₄ could selectively recognize N₂H₄ over other competitive analytes, and displayed high sensitivity toward N₂H₄ with a low detection limit of 0.117 μM. The sensing mechanism of the probe TB-N₂H₄ for N₂H₄ was confirmed by theoretical calculation and HRMS analysis. This probe was able to quantitatively determine N₂H₄ in environmental water and soil samples. Additionally, TB-N₂H₄ was also successfully utilized for real-time tracking of the distribution of N₂H₄ in living zebrafish.

Smartphone-assisted microfluidic and spectrophotometric recognition of hydrazine: a new platform towards rapid analysis of carcinogenic agents and environmental technology

Hydrazine (Hyd), a poisonous substance, is frequently employed in agriculture and industry as a scavenger to remove residues of oxygen from boiler feed water, electrical power plants, etc. Even at trace amounts, these chemicals are hazardous to humans. To limit the risks of exposure, there is a critical need for sensors for the monitoring of Hyd concentration to guarantee they are below harmful levels. In comparison to other approaches, the colorimetric method has garnered a great deal of interest due to its high sensitivity, speed, convenience, and simple optical color change detection. This study's primary purpose is to develop a portable tool for the colorimetric and spectrophotometric detection of Hyd using silver nanoparticles (silver nanoprism (AgNPr), silver nanowires (AgNW), and silver citrate (AgCit)). In addition, UV-visible spectroscopy was utilized for the quantitation evaluation of Hyd in real samples. The proposed approach demonstrated a linear range of 0.08 M to 6 M for Hyd by AgNW and 0.02 to 5 M by AgNPr as optical probes, whereas AgCit exhibited no color change (negative response). Using AgNPr and AgNW, the low limit of detection of Hyd was 200 μM and 800 μM, respectively. In addition, a novel method was employed for the first time to explore the effect of time on the determination of the candidate analyte. Consequently, the proposed method can be utilized to detect Hyd in real samples. Therefore, our method shows both qualitative and quantitative measurement of Hyd with high sensitivity, low cost, and fast analysis time and promisingly it can be industrialized for quick detection of Hyd in aquatic real samples.

Effects of plant morphology, vitamin C, and other co-present pesticides on the deposition, dissipation, and metabolism of chlorothalonil in pakchoi

Pesticide residues have been a focus of attention of food safety. Different varietal pakchoi plants grown in open fields were studied to understand effects of morphology, leaf wax content, and vitamin C on the deposition, dissipation, and metabolism of chlorothalonil. The loose pakchoi plants and flat leaves were conducive to pesticide deposition, but not plants with erect leaves. Chlorothalonil on nine varieties of pakchoi dissipated in the first-order kinetic with T1/2 s of 1.4 ~ 2.0 days. Vitamin C in pakchoi could promote the dissipation of chlorothalonil. Carbendazim could significantly promote the dissipation of chlorothalonil on pakchoi. Interestingly, four metabolites of chlorothalonil were identified in the pakchoi and the metabolic pathway was predicted by DFT calculations. The risk assessment showed that pakchoi were safe for consumption after 10 days of application of the recommended dose. This work provides important information for the understanding of deposition, dissipation, and metabolism of chlorothalonil in pakchoi.

A novel ESIPT-based fluorescent probe with dual recognition sites for the detection of hydrazine in the environmental water samples and in-vivo bioimaging

Hydrazine (N₂H₄), an important chemical intermediate, has been widely used in industrial production and agricultural life, but it has also caused environmental pollution. A novel ESIPT-based fluorescent probe with dual recognition sites, 2-(benzothiazole-2-yl)-1,4-imphenyl bis 4-bromobutyric acid (BRBA), was developed to selectively detect N₂H₄ under complex conditions. BRBA exhibits accurate detection for N₂H₄ with a good linear relationship ranging from 0 to 150 μM, and the LOD can reach 0.1 μM. Importantly, taking advantage of low cytotoxicity and a large Stokes shift, BRBA can be utilized to monitor environmental water samples and successfully applied to imaging HeLa cells and zebrafish.

Construction of a novel fluorescent nanocarrier with double hollow shells for pH-controlled release of imidacloprid and its distribution and transport in bok choy

Nanotechnology has been widely used in the field of pesticides. Integration of nano-pesticides and carbon dot fluorescence can fully utilize the potential for high admission of pesticides on leaves and convenience observation of its distribution and transport in the tissues. In the present study, a fluorescent mesoporous nanosilica with double hollow shells for loading imidacloprid (Im@FL-MSNs) was designed and synthesized. The physical and chemical properties of the imidacloprid nanocarriers were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N₂ adsorption/desorption. When the mass ratio of FL MSNs to imidacloprid is 6:5, Im@FL-MSNs exhibits good fluorescence properties, high loading efficiency (∼30%), great slow-release performance as well as pH controllability. Besides, Im@FL-MSNs can improve the ability of imidacloprid to adhere on the leaf surface of bok choy (Initial contact angled is greater than 80°）. Importantly, Im@FL-MSNs did not reduce the biological activity of imidacloprid (LC₅₀ (95% CI) = 1.43 mg/L). It was able to visually study the absorption and distribution of imidacloprid in bok choy plants, and provide theoretical and technical guidance for pesticide reduction.

A Pilot Study on the Concentration, Distribution and Bioaccumulation of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Tissues and Organs of Grassland Sheep

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in various tissues and organs of grassland sheep from Inner Mongolia, China, were determined. The abilities of PBDEs binding to ovine serum albumin (OSA) and Cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP3A24) were assessed by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking simulations. The PBDE concentrations in the sheep tissue and organ samples were 33.4-167 pg/g dw. The distribution of PBDEs in sheep organs and tissues is affected not only by the function of organs and tissues, but also by the characteristics of PBDEs. Adipose tissue tends to bioaccumulate more-brominated BDEs (BDE-154, -153, and -183), but muscle tissues and visceral organs mainly bioaccumulate less-brominated BDEs. The distribution of PBDEs in visceral organs is mainly affected by the transport of ovine serum albumin (OSA) and the metabolism of CYP3A24 enzyme. The distribution of PBDEs in adipose tissue and brain is mainly affected by their logK_OW.

Potential toxic effects of sulfonamides antibiotics: Molecular modeling, multiple-spectroscopy techniques and density functional theory calculations

Sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) are widely used in medicine, animal husbandry and aquaculture, and excessive intake of SAs may pose potential toxicity to organisms. The toxicological mechanisms of two classical SAs, sulfamerazine (SMR) and sulfamethoxazole (SMT), were investigated by molecular docking, DFT and multi-spectroscopic techniques using HSA and BSA as model proteins. The quenching of HSA/BSA endogenous fluorescence by SMR was higher than that by SMT due to the stronger binding effect of the pyrimidine ring on HSA/BSA compared to the oxazole ring, and that result was consistent with that predicted by DFT calculations. Thermodynamic parameters show that the binding of SAs to HSA/BSA is an exothermic process that proceeds spontaneously (ΔG < 0). Marker competition experiments illustrate that the binding site of SMR/SMT on serum albumin is located in subdomain IIIA. The combination of SAs and HSA/BSA is mainly realized by hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction, and the concept is also supported by molecular modeling. The reduced α-helix content of HSA/BSA induced by SMR/SMT indicates a greater stretching of the protein α-helix structure of the SMR/SMT-HSA/BSA. The results could provide useful toxicological information on the hazards of SAs in response to growing concern that SAs may pose a toxic threat to organisms.

Efficient Degradation of Printing and Dyeing Wastewater by Lotus Leaf-Based Nitrogen Self-Doped Mesoporous Biochar Activated Persulfate: Synergistic Mechanism of Adsorption and Catalysis

The discharge of printing and dyeing wastewater has been increasing, causing serious environmental pollution with the rapid development of the industry. Based on this, an N self-doped mesoporous lotus leaf biochar (LLC800) was prepared from lotus leaves as raw material for the activation of Persulfate (PS) to degrade wastewater from printing and dyeing. The removal rate of AO7 by PS, LLC800 and LLC800/PS systems were 0.84%, 31.11% and 99.46%, respectively. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and quench tests showed the presence of free radicals (•OH, SO4●− and O2●−) and nonradical (1O2) in the LLC800/PS system, where nonradicals (1O2) play an important role in the degradation of AO7. The “N self-doped” effect formed by the high N content of lotus leaves is the main factor leading to the high adsorption and catalytic performance of lotus leaf biochar. The effect of pyrolysis temperature on the performance of biochar can be attributed to the change of N content and conformation and specific surface area in biochar. Moreover, the LLC800/PS system has a strong resistance to interference. This work can provide technical support for the preparation of high-performance adsorption-catalytic biochar and the development of high-performance activation materials for persulfate.

Nanoplastics alter the conformation and activity of human serum albumin

Nanoplastics finds its presence in most of the consumer products. Their chance of coming in contact with human cells and components is rampant. This study focuses on the interaction of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) with human serum albumin (HSA), ultimately causing structural and functional properties of the protein. Fluorescence and UV-Visible spectroscopic studies reported that PSNPs form a spontaneous ground-state complex with HSA, by hydrogen bonding, van der waal's, and hydrophobic force of attraction. This causes changes in the environment around major aromatic amino acids, especially tryptophan-214, which has a strong affinity with PSNPs. Further docking analysis confirmed hydrophobic interactions between PSNPs and aromatic amino acids in subdomain IIA of HSA. A shift in amide bands in HSA, as determined by FTIR analysis confirmed the disturbances in its secondary structure followed by reordering which will lead to the unfolding of HSA. Besides, PSNPs reduce the esterase activity of HSA by competitive inhibition. This molecular-level information such as binding energy, binding site, binding forces, reversible or irreversible binding, and structural changes of protein will shed light on the extent of toxicity in humans. This study will emphasize the urgent need for regulation of the use of nanoplastics (NPs) in consumer products, as well as the need for more research to determine the fate of NPs in the biological system.

An ICT-Based Coumarin Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Hydrazine and Its Application in Environmental Water Samples and Organisms

As an inorganic small molecule pollutant, the toxicity and potential carcinogenicity of hydrazine (N₂H₄) are of increasing concern. In this work, A water-soluble fluorescent probe (OCYB) based on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism for the detection of hydrazine was designed and synthesized. Taking the advantage of 4-bromobutyryl as the recognition group, the high selectivity of OCYB to N₂H₄ was confirmed by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 78 nM in the DMSO-HEPES (pH 7.4) system. The detection mechanism was verified by NMR, HRMS and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, OCYB exhibits strong anti-interference ability and an “Off-On” fluorescence enhancement effect. Importantly, OCYB can be used to effectively monitor the fluorescence distribution of N₂H₄ in environmental water samples and organisms.

A dual-response fluorescent probe for N2H4 and viscosity in living cells and zebrafish to evaluate liver injury

Hydrazide drugs can cause severe drug-induced liver injury owing to the enzymatic release of N₂H₄ in the liver. Also, changes in cellular viscosity are associated with liver damage. Thus, simultaneous monitoring of changes in N₂H₄ levels and viscosity can be used to evaluate the side effects of hydrazide drugs. Herein, we firstly reported a near-infrared fluorescent probe (FNN), which contains 1,8-naphthalimide as the fluorophore and a chalcone moiety as the responsive receptor, for sensitively detecting intracellular viscosity and N₂H₄. FNN showed a fast 'turn-on' fluorescence response to N₂H₄ with excellent selectivity. Additionally, FNN could selectively track viscosity without interference from polarity, pH, and other active species. Furthermore, imaging experiments suggested that FNN could be successfully applied in living cells and zebrafish larvae and embryos, which is of great importance for effectively assessing the degree of liver injury.

Monitoring thiophenols in both environmental water samples and bio-samples: A method based on a fluorescent probe with broad pH adaptation

Thiophenol, which is a highly toxic sulfhydryl compound widely used in chemical industry, is an environmental pollutant that threatens human health significantly. It is of great importance to detect highly toxic thiophenols in both environmental and biological system. Thus, the need to develop rapid response, selective and sensitive probes is urgent. In this study, a novel probe was presented for the detection of thiophenols based on an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. This probe exhibits rapid response, broad pH adaptation (2-10), highly selectivity, a large Stokes shift (131 nm) and 40-fold enhancement in fluorescence. Besides, this probe showed low toxicity towards human cell HEK293 and could be applied to detect thiophenol both in living cells, zebrafish and environmental water samples with good recovery (over 94%). All the results indicated that this probe could be a promising sensor for applications for thiophenol derivatives detection in both environmental and biological sciences.

Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe with a Large Stokes Shift for Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide in Food Spoilage, Living Cells, and Zebrafish

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a significant component of various physiological processes, and it can also cause a negative effect on foodstuffs. In this work, we designed and synthesized an NIR fluorescent turn-on responding probe (DDM-H₂S) with a large Stokes shift (190 nm) for the detection of H₂S. DDM-H₂S exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity, obvious color changes, and a fast response time for tracing H₂S. When DDM-H₂S reacted with H₂S, the PET process was eliminated, and the recovered ICT process and NIR fluorescence were observed. Moreover, DDM-H₂S could image endogenous and exogenous H₂S in living HeLa cells and zebrafish. What is more, the probe DDM-H₂S could be deposited easily to test paper strips, which were able to detect the H₂S gas produced during food spoilage (such as eggs, raw meat, and fishes) by the color of test paper strips changing from pink to purple. Therefore, this work provides a promising approach for monitoring H₂S in complicated biological systems and practical food samples.

Uptake, translocation and metabolism of imidacloprid loaded within fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Fluorescence-labeling technology has been widely used for rapid detection of pesticides in agricultural production. However, there are few studies on the use of this technology to investigate pesticide uptake and transport in plants with fluorescent nanoparticle formulations. Here, we investigated uptake, transport, accumulation and metabolism of imidacloprid loaded in fluorescent mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles (Im@FL-MSNs) in tomato plants, and compared the results with the pesticide application in granular formulation. The results revealed that Im@FL-MSNs applied via root uptake and foliar spray both could effectively transport in tomato plants and carry the imidacloprid to plant tissues. Neither Im@FL-MSNs nor imidacloprid was detected inside of tomato fruits from root uptake or foliar spray applications. Compared with the foliar application of granular formulation, imidacloprid in Im@FL-MSNs demonstrated a higher concentration in leaves (1.14 ± 0.07 mg/kg > 1.08 ± 0.04 mg/kg, 1.13 ± 0.09 mg/kg > 1.11 ± 0.02 mg/kg), longer half-life (0.84 d < 1.31 d, 0.90 d < 1.36 d) and small numbers of metabolites formed. These results suggest that mesoporous silica nanoparticles could serve as an effective and efficient pesticide carrier for achieving the high use efficiency in plant protection. The information is also helpful to guide the pesticide applications and assess the risks associated with environmental quality and dietary consumption of vegetables.

Development of a ratiometric fluorescent probe with large Stokes shift and emission wavelength shift for real-time tracking of hydrazine and its multiple applications in environmental analysis and biological imaging

As a tremendously noxious and extensively utilized chemical reagent, hydrazine (N₂H₄) has become a serious threat to ecosystem and human health. Thus, it is desirable to exploit an efficient method for real-time tracking of hydrazine. Here, a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe PBQ-AB for hydrazine was rationally constructed from isolongifolanone. This probe displayed an extremely large Stokes shift of 230 nm and could selectively recognize hydrazine in the presence of other competitive species within an extremely short time ( 40 s). PBQ-AB also displayed some fascinating merits in the detection of hydrazine, including low detection limit (48 nM), wide pH range (5-12), excellent photostability (>240 min), and well-resolved emission wavelength shift (148 nm). Moreover, this probe was utilized to fabricate a ready-to-use electrospinning nanofibrous membrane for convenient detection of hydrazine vapor by virtue of smartphone. Furthermore, PBQ-AB was capable of determining hydrazine contaminant in environmental soil and water samples. Additionally, its favorable performance for detecting hydrazine was successfully demonstrated in live HeLa cells as well as in live Arabidopsis thaliana tissues, manifesting its promising application for labeling hydrazine in living systems. Therefore, we believed that this probe has great potential in environmental analysis and health supervision.

Rational design of a facile camphor-based fluorescence turn-on probe for real-time tracking of hypochlorous acid in vivo and in vitro

A novel camphor-based fluorescence turn-on probe with high selectivity and sensitivity was developed for HClO detection, and it was successfully employed for real-time imaging of exogenous and endogenous HClO in living cells as well as in living zebrafish.

A lysosomal targeted fluorescent probe based on coumarin for monitoring hydrazine in living cells with high performance

A lysosomal targeted fluorescent probe based on coumarin for monitoring hydrazine (N₂H₄) in living cells was designed and synthesised. The novel fluorescent probe Cou-Lyso-N2H4, in response to N₂H₄, exhibited good selectivity, low cytotoxicity, and lysosomal localization, which could be suitable for studying the harmfulness of N₂H₄ in subcellular organelles during various physiological processes.

Coumarin 1,4-enedione for selective detection of hydrazine in aqueous solution and fluorescence imaging in living cells

Hydrazine is a widely used but highly toxic chemical reagent, and the development of a fluorescent probe for hydrazine detection is very meaningful. In this study, a novel coumarin-derived fluorescent probe containing a 1,4-enedione moiety for hydrazine detection was developed. The recognition of hydrazine with the probe brings about obvious fluorescence enhancement over other environmentally relevant ions and amine-containing species. The limit of detection for hydrazine is 2.7×10^-8 M in aqueous solution. The fluorescence enhancement was ascribed to the cyclization reaction of the 1,4-enedione moiety of the probe and hydrazine which form a six-membered pyridazine ring and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and theoretical calculations confirmed the recognition produced. The probe can be used to determine trace hydrazine in real water samples. More importantly, the probe also showed good potential in detecting hydrazine by imaging of living HeLa cells.

Design of Large Stokes Shift Fluorescent Proteins Based on Excited State Proton Transfer of an Engineered Photobase

The incredible potential for fluorescent proteins to revolutionize biology has inspired the development of a variety of design strategies to address an equally broad range of photophysical characteristics, depending on potential applications. Of these, fluorescent proteins that simultaneously exhibit high quantum yield, red-shifted emission, and wide separation between excitation and emission wavelengths (Large Stokes Shift, LSS) are rare. The pursuit of LSS systems has led to the formation of a complex, obtained from the marriage of a rationally engineered protein (human cellular retinol binding protein II, hCRBPII) and different fluorogenic molecules, capable of supporting photobase activity. The large increase in basicity upon photoexcitation leads to protonation of the fluorophore in the excited state, dramatically red-shifting its emission, leading to an LSS protein/fluorophore complex. Essential for selective photobase activity is the intimate involvement of the target protein structure and sequence that enables Excited State Proton Transfer (ESPT). The potential power and usefulness of the strategy was demonstrated in live cell imaging of human cell lines.

White light employing luminescent engineered large (mega) Stokes shift molecules: a review

Large (mega) Stokes shift molecules have shown great potential in white light emission for optoelectronic applications, such as flat panel display technology, light-emitting diodes, photosensitizers, molecular probes, cellular and bioimaging, and other applications. This review aims to summarize recent developments of white light generation that incorporate a large Stokes shift component, key approaches to designing large Stokes shift molecules, perspectives on future opportunities, and remaining challenges confronting this emerging research field. After a brief introduction of feasible pathways in generating white light, exemplifications of large Stokes shift molecules as white light candidates from organic and inorganic-based materials are illustrated. Various possible ways to design such molecules have been revealed by integrating the photophysical mechanisms that are essential to produce red-shifted emission upon photoexcitation, such as excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), excited state geometrical relaxation or structural deformation, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) alongside the different formations of aggregates, interplay between monomer and excimer emission, host-guest interaction, and lastly metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) via harvesting triplet state. Furthermore, previously reported fluorescent materials are described and categorized based on luminescence behaviors on account of the Stokes shifts value. This review will serve as a rationalized introduction and reference for researchers who are interested in exploring large or mega Stokes shift molecules, and will motivate new strategies along with instigation of persistent efforts in this prominent subject area with great avenues.

A novel near-infrared fluorimetric method for point-of-care monitoring of Fe2+ and its application in bioimaging

Iron is one of the essential trace elements in the human body, which is involved in many important physiological processes of life. The abnormal amount of iron in the body will bring many diseases. Therefore, a novel near-infrared fluorimetric method was developed. The method is based on a fluorescent probe (E)-4-(2-(3-(dicyanomethylene)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-N, N-diethylaniline oxide (DDED) which uses N-oxide as a recognition group to real-time monitoring and imaging of Fe²⁺ in vivo and in vitro. The method exhibits excellent selectivity and high sensitivity (LOD = 27 nM) for Fe²⁺, fast reaction rate (< 4 min), extremely large Stokes shift (＞ 275 nm), low cytotoxicity. The strip test strongly illustrates the potential application of DDED in real environment. In particular, DDED has been successfully applied to real-time monitoring and imaging of Fe²⁺ in HepG² cells and zebrafish. That is, the method has great potential for the detection of Fe²⁺ in living systems.

Quantum dots encoded white-emitting polymeric superparticles for simultaneous detection of multiple heavy metal ions

Simultaneous detection of multiple heavy metal ions (HMI) is of great importance for the environmental monitoring, and the analytical tools based on multiband emissive fluorescent probes have been regarded as one of the most promising candidate for multiple HMI detection. Herein, the rod-coil amphiphilic block copolymer (BCP) with intrinsic blue fluorescence emission has been synthesized and subsequently employed to encapsulate two types of hydrophobic quantum dots (QD) with green and red fluorescence emission via the three dimensionally confined emulsion self-assembly, leading to the generation of white-emitting superparticles showing good colloidal stability and stable aqueous phase fluorescence. Furthermore, it was found that the fluorescence emission intensity of obtained superparticles can be selectively quenched by Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions via different mechanisms, and the four metal ions can be further discriminated according to their distinct combinational quenching effects onto three fluorescent bands of white-emitting superparticles. In addition, an analytical model was built to enable the simultaneous detection of Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in the real sample. Basically, the current work opens the new way to fabricate fluorescent probes with multiple emission bands, which can be easily adapted to prepare more complicated QD encoded fluorescent probes for high throughput detection.

Amperometric sensor based on ZIF/g-C3N4/RGO heterojunction nanocomposite for hydrazine detection

A dense  zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) nanosheet is for the first time molded by reduced graphite oxide (RGO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) to fabricate an original 2D/2D/2D heterojunction (ZIF/g-C₃N₄/RGO nanohybrid), which is pipetted onto carbon cloth electrode (CCE) (ZIF/g-C₃N₄/RGO/CCE) as an electrochemical sensor. Profiting from the renowned synergistic and coupling effects, the resulting nanohybrid endows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards hydrazine. Amperometric detection reveals that the hybrid sensor possesses a low detection limit of 32 nM (S/N = 3) in a monitoring range of 0.0001 to 1.0386 mM, along with a high sensitivity 93.71 μA mM^-1 cm^-2. Importantly, the minimum detection concentration of hydrazine in the actual sample is lower than the maximum allowable limit of the World Health Organization (WHO) and has high reproducibility (RSD = 4.82%). As expected, the high sensing capability  of ZIF/g-C₃N₄/RGO combines the advantages of abundant surface-active sites and high conductivity along with 2D interfaces between ZIF, g-C₃N₄, and RGO nanosheets. This study provides a promising to expand 2D-based ternary nanojunction as a bridge for promoting sensing performance.Graphical abstract.

Second derivative synchronous fluorescence determination of avanafil in the presence of its acid-induced degradation product aided by powerful Lean Six Sigma tools augmented with D-optimal design

In this work, the quantitative determination of an erectile dysfunctional drug avanafil in the presence of its acid-induced degradation product was achieved via the application of a pre-optimized novel spectrofluorimetric method. The fluorescence emission wavelength was recorded at 370 and 407 nm, after being excited at 268 and 271 nm for avanafil and its acid-induced degradation product, respectively. Direct determination of avanafil based on its native fluorescence is restricted because the emission spectra of both components are heavily overlapped. Therefore, to overcome this constraint, a novel second derivative synchronous fluorescence method was evolved to eliminate this overlapping. The ideal determination wavelength was found to be 377 nm. Augmentation of lean six sigma (LSS) with response surface methodology (RSM) play a significant role in the development of robust specifications to ensure quality at the six sigma level with a high level of statistical confidence and targeted performance. All of the experimental conditions were optimized using D-optimal design as a RSM to select the optimal parameters. In addition, this work includes a graphical representation of the relationships between various variables that can greatly affect the results and the intensity of the synchronous fluorescence.

A novel donor-π-acceptor halochromic 2,6-distyrylnaphthalene chromophore: synthesis, photophysical properties and DFT studies

In this study a new 2,6-distyryl naphthalene [2-((4-((E)-2-(6-((E)-2,4-bis(methylsulfonyl)styryl)naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)phenyl)(ethyl)amino)ethan-1-ol; ASDSN] was synthesized successfully using Heck chemistry as the main reaction. The ASDSN compound is a donor-pi-acceptor (D-π-A) conjugated system with amino as electron donating and sulfonyl as electron withdrawing groups. The UV-vis absorption of ASDSN was observed in the range of 403-417 nm with high molar extinction coefficients (ε = 15 300-56 200 M-1 cm-1) in some different solvents. This new fluorescent 2,6-distyryl naphthalene compound emits in the yellow region of the visible spectrum (557 nm) with Stokes shifts of 5930 cm-1. ASDSN is a pH-responsive fluorescence compound that shows yellow fluorescence in neutral form and blue fluorescence in the protonated form. A white light emission (WLE) for the chromophore was observed at pH = 3.0. The ASDSN chromophore presented a satisfactory white light quantum yield (Φ) of 13% which was desirable for producing white light emitting devices. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD)-DFT were applied to study structural and electronic properties of the chromophore.

A dicyanoisophorone-based highly sensitive and selective near-infrared fluorescent probe for sensing thiophenol in water samples and living cells

Thiophenol (PhSH) is an important sulfhydryl compound in organic synthesis, but it is also a volatile environmental pollutant with high toxicity to organisms. Herein, we reported a novel near-infrared (NIR) probe (1) for turn-on fluorescence detection of PhSH. The probe was prepared by coupling 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) to a dicyanoisophorone-based fluorophore (2). PhSH can specifically perform a nucleophilic aromatic substitution on probe 1 and result in the release of fluorophore 2, thus achieving a turn-on fluorescence response (λ_em = 693 nm). A dramatic color change from red (λ_abs = 525 nm) to blue (λ_abs = 668 nm) was also observed. This fluorescent assay displayed a large Stokes shift (∼133 nm) and a high sensitivity for PhSH, as well as a low detection limit (34 nM). Moreover, probe 1 was successfully applied to monitor PhSH in real water samples and image PhSH in living cells.

Investigation of binding interaction between human serum albumin with zirconium complex of curcumin and curcumin

The current study investigates the binding process of Zr(CUR) as a novel six-coordinate complex of zirconium with curcumin ligand and curcumin (CUR); as the main pharmacologically active ingredient of turmeric to human serum albumin (HSA); using fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and molecular docking techniques. The fluorimetric results revealed that Zr(CUR) and CUR could effectively quench the endogenous fluorescence of HSA, formed a 1:1 complex, with a static quenching mechanism. The distance between donor (HSA) and acceptor (Zr(CUR) and CUR) were determined to be 3.15 nm for Zr(CUR) and 2.95 nm for CUR on the basis of the Forester's theory of non-radiative energy transfer. Results of the infrared absorption spectrum show that the secondary structure of HSA changes for both types. Molecular docking results indicated that for structure with minimum binding energy Zr(CUR) and CUR are in the position between IIA and IIIA. Also, a docking study showed that Zr(CUR) and CUR have several hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals contact with HSA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.