A highly sensitive and selective chemosensors for detection of Zn2+ and its application in live cell imaging

Picomolar level sensorial dual colorimetric gold nanoparticle sensor for Zn2+ and Hg2+ ions synthesized from bark extract of Lannea Grandis Coromandelica and its wide range applications in real sample analysis

In this work a facile, rapid, reproducible and non-toxic approach has been demonstrated for synthesis of most stable AuNPs from bark extract of Lannea Grandis Coromandelica. UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, SAED, EDX, XRD, DLS, Zeta Potential, FE-SEM, AFM and XPS techniques were employed for the characterization of synthesized LGC-AuNPs. The UV-Vis spectra of LGC-AuNPs gave SPR peak at 536 nm while the TEM analysis revealed LGC-AuNPs have 20.75 nm size with spherical in shape. DLS study showed the AuNPs have average diameter 50.18 nm. The synthesized AuNPs exhibited very high selectivity, rapid response in recognition towards Zn2+ and Hg2+ ions by changing its color within 20 sec. This proposed sensor can detect very low picomolar level of Zn2+ and Hg2+ ions (LOD value for Zn2+ and Hg2+ were found 1.36 pM and 24.60 pM respectively). Here we also studied effect of several factors such as variation of conc of gold, temperature, incubation time, pH, salt, solvent (polar protic and polar aprotic) to know in which condition AuNPs have high stability and sensitivity. The data revealed that synthesized AuNPs was stable up to two years at pH 6.5 at room temperature in water media and under this condition, it shows maximum sensitivity and reactivity. Moreover, here interference study was carried out to identify high selectivity of synthesized LGC-AuNPs probe in presence of different metal ions. The real sample analyses also revealed the great applicability of this probe. Therefore, this simple, rapid, low-cost, sensing activity appeared to hold great sensibleness for detection of heavy metal ions in real sample.

Recent Advances in Fluorescent Probes for Zinc Ions Based on Various Response Mechanisms

Zinc is a vital metal element with extensive applications in various fields such as industry, metallurgy, agriculture, food, and healthcare. For living organisms, zinc ions are indispensable, and their deficiency can lead to physiological and metabolic abnormalities that cause multiple diseases. Hence, there is a significant need for selective recognition and effective detection of free zinc ions. As a probe method with high sensitivity, high selectivity, real-time monitoring, safety, harmlessness and ease of operation, fluorescent probes have been widely used in metal ion identification studies, and many convenient, low-cost and easy-to-operate fluorescent probes for Zn2+ detection have been developed. This article reviews the latest research advances in fluorescent chemosensors for Zn2+ detection from 2019 to 2023. In particular, sensors working through photo-induced electron transfer (PET), excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF), and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanisms are described. We discuss the use of various recognition mechanisms in detecting zinc ions through specific cases, some of which have been validated through theoretical calculations.

A fluorometric and colorimetric dual-readout nanoprobe based on Cl and N co-doped carbon quantum dots with large stokes shift for sequential detection of morin and zinc ion

A novel visual nanoprobe was developed for the sequential detection of morin and zinc ion (Zn²⁺) based on Cl and N co-doped carbon quantum dots (ClNCQDs) via a fluorometric and colorimetric dual-readout mode. The yellow fluorescence ClNCQDs was synthesized by the one-step hydrothermal treatment of o-chlorobenzoic acid and p-phenylenediamine. The most distinctive property of the ClNCQDs is the large stokes shift (177 nm), which is significantly higher than other reported CQDs. The fluorescence of the ClNCQDs can be effectively quenched by morin based on the synergistic effect of IFE, electrostatic interaction, and dynamic quenching process, and recovered upon the addition of Zn²⁺ due to strong interaction between morin and Zn²⁺. The nanoprobe exhibited favorable selectivity and sensitivity toward morin and Zn²⁺ with detection limits of 0.09 µM and 0.17 µM, respectively. Simultaneously, the color of the ClNCQDs solution was changed (light-pink → faint-yellow → dark-yellow) along with the variation of the fluorescence signal of the ClNCQDs. This proposed nanoprobe was successfully applied for morin and Zn²⁺ analyses in actual samples and live cells with high accuracy. The results of this study demonstrate the great application prospects of the ClNCQDs for morin and Zn²⁺ detection in complex actual samples and biosystems.