A 4,5-quinolimide-based fluorescent sensor for sequential detection of Cu2+ and cysteine in water and living cells with application in a memorized device

An interesting aggregation induced red shifted emissive and ESIPT active hydroxycoumarin tagged symmetrical azine: Colorimetric and fluorescent turn on-off-on response towards Cu2+ and Cysteine, real sample analysis and logic gate application

We report a newly synthesized 7-diethylamino-4-hydroxycoumarin tagged symmetrical azine derivative (SHC), with an interesting color transformation from yellowish green to orange via aggregation induced red shifted emissive (117 nm) feature in THF-H2O mixture. Interestingly, the single crystal X-ray analysis of this molecule demonstrates that two hydroxycoumarin moieties were present in azine unit, among them one of the coumarin units was exist as enol form and another one transferred to keto form via ground state proton transfer reaction. The optical responses of the compound in different solvents exposed the observation of dual emissive bands which corresponds to the presence of ESIPT phenomenon in SHC molecule. Further, this characteristic was confirmed by absorption, emission, solid state structure and time resolved fluorescence decay measurements. Furthermore, the fluorophore, SHC was exploited as a colorimetric and turn on-off-on fluorescent probe for detection of Cu2+ ions and Cysteine (Cys). The 1:1 binding ratio of the probe with Cu2+ and Cys with SHC-Cu2+, was established via Job plot analysis, mass spectral technique and the DFT calculations. The probe, SHC was employed for the detection of copper ions in the environmental real water samples. Finally, the reversible fluorescent turn on-off-on character of the probe, SHC was established to construct the IMPLICATION logic gate application.

Small-Molecule Fluorescent Probes for Binding- and Activity-Based Sensing of Redox-Active Biological Metals

Although transition metals constitute less than 0.1% of the total mass within a human body, they have a substantial impact on fundamental biological processes across all kingdoms of life. Indeed, these nutrients play crucial roles in the physiological functions of enzymes, with the redox properties of many of these metals being essential to their activity. At the same time, imbalances in transition metal pools can be detrimental to health. Modern analytical techniques are helping to illuminate the workings of metal homeostasis at a molecular and atomic level, their spatial localization in real time, and the implications of metal dysregulation in disease pathogenesis. Fluorescence microscopy has proven to be one of the most promising non-invasive methods for studying metal pools in biological samples. The accuracy and sensitivity of bioimaging experiments are predominantly determined by the fluorescent metal-responsive sensor, highlighting the importance of rational probe design for such measurements. This review covers activity- and binding-based fluorescent metal sensors that have been applied to cellular studies. We focus on the essential redox-active metals: iron, copper, manganese, cobalt, chromium, and nickel. We aim to encourage further targeted efforts in developing innovative approaches to understanding the biological chemistry of redox-active metals.

A highly selective fluorescence turn-on sensor for Hg2+ based on quinolimide in aqueous media and its applications

Herein, a novel fluorescent sensor QPE based on quinolimide was developed, which displayed the highly selective response to Hg2+ through the turn-on signal in aqueous media. The corresponding recognition mechanism of QPE for Hg2+ was investigated by the titration experiments, Job's plots, HRMS, and DFT calculations analysis. QPE could detect Hg2+ in a broad pH range (pH = 4-9) with the LOD of 20 nM and the LOQ of 66 nM. Meanwhile, QPE-loaded test strips were demonstrated in the visual detection of Hg2+. Importantly, QPE exhibited the reliable capability to track Hg2+ in real water and soil samples and yeast cells, indicating that QPE could be used as a prospective tool for monitoring Hg2+ in wide fields.

An aqueous mediated ultrasensitive facile probe incorporated with acrylate moiety to monitor cysteine in food samples and live cells

A colorimetric probe TQA ((E)-4-(((8-(sec-butoxy)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H,5H-pyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-9-yl)methylene)amino)benzylacrylate) possessing greater potent towards the sensing of cysteine was successfully synthesized and characterized. The aqueous soluble probe TQA detects Cys based on "ON-OFF" effect with excellent absorbance and emission properties. The probe TQA detects Cys up to its ultra-low level concentration of 1.5 nM and also quantifies the Cys up to 5.05 nM with the quicker response time of 140 s (2.3 min). In addition, the color change produced by the probe TQA on integrated with Cys was also identified easily via paper strip, cotton wool buds and RGB color picker app in smart mobiles. Further, the admirable selectivity and sensitivity of the probe TQA towards Cys extends its utility towards food samples and imaging of live HeLa cells.

Molecular probes for fluorescent sensing of metal ions in non-mammalian organisms

While metal ions play an important role in the proper functioning of all life, many questions remain unanswered about exactly how different metals contribute to health and disease. The development of fluorescent probes, which respond to metals, has allowed greater understanding of the cellular location, concentration and speciation of metals in living systems, giving a new appreciation of their function. While the focus of studies using these fluorescent tools has largely been on mammalian organisms, there has been relatively little application of these powerful tools to other organisms. In this review, we highlight recent examples of molecular fluorophores, which have been applied to sensing metals in non-mammalian organisms.

Development in Fluorescent OFF-ON Probes Based on Cu2+ Promoted Hydrolysis Reaction of the Picolinate Moiety

Anions and cations have a key role in our normal life. Cu²⁺ ion is a crucial trace element accountable for the part of several cellular enzymes and proteins, including cytochrome c oxidase, dopamine monooxygenase, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, and ceruloplasmin. WHO has found the extreme acceptable level of Cu²⁺ ions in drinking water is up to 2.0 ppm. Excess use of Cu²⁺ ions is associated with various human genetic disorders. Thus, the visualization of Cu²⁺ ions to avoid its toxic effects in chemical and biological systems is significant. In this review we have summarized sensors based on catalytic hydrolysis of picolinate to detect Cu²⁺ ions. The sensors based on hydrolysis of picolinate are very selective as compared to the other sensors for Cu²⁺ ions detection. We have focused on describing the structure, spectral properties, detection limits, and bioimaging model of the sensors.

A Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescein-Based Cu2+ Probe and Its Bioimaging in Cell

Copper is a vital trace metal in human body, which plays the significant roles in amounts of physiological and pathological processes. The application of copper-selective probe has attracted great interests from environmental tests to life process research, yet a few of sensitive Cu²⁺ tests based on on-site analysis have been reported. In this paper, a novel fluorescein-based fluorescent probe N4 was designed, synthesized, and characterized, which exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to Cu²⁺ comparing with other metal ions in ethanol–water (1/1, v/v) solution. The probe N4 bonded with Cu²⁺ to facilitate the ring-opening, and an obvious new band at 525 nm in the fluorescence spectroscopy appeared, which could be used for naked-eye detection of Cu²⁺ within a broad pH range of 6–9. Meanwhile, a good linearity between the fluorescence intensity and the concentrations of Cu²⁺ ranged 0.1–1.5 eq. was observed, and the limit of detection of N4 to Cu²⁺ was calculated to be as low as 1.20 μm. In addition, the interaction mode between N4 and Cu²⁺ was found to be 1:1 by the Job's plot and mass experiment. Biological experiments showed that the probe N4 exhibited low biological toxicity and could be applied for Cu²⁺ imaging in living cells. The significant color shift associated with the production of the N4-Cu²⁺ complex at low micromolar concentrations under UV light endows N4 with a promising probe for field testing of trace Cu²⁺ ions.

Irreversible coumarin based fluorescent probe for selective detection of Cu2+ in living cells

Copper ion (Cu²⁺) is an essential part of the living organisms. Cu²⁺ ions play a vital role in many biotic processes. An abnormal amount of Cu²⁺ ions may result in serious diseases. Herein, a novel "fluorescent ON" probe NC-Cu to trace minute levels of Cu²⁺ ions in presence of various biological active species has been developed. Lysosomal cells targeting group (Morpholine) was added to the probe. The spectral properties of probe NC-Cu were recorded in HEPES buffer (0.01 M, pH = 7.4, comprising 50% CH₃CN, λ_ex = 430 nm, slit: 5 nm). The synthesized probe NC-Cu work based on copper promoted catalytic hydrolysis of hydrazone and shows remarkable fluorescence enhancement. The reaction of the probe with Cu²⁺ ions was completed within 20 min. An excellent linear relationship (R² = 0.9952) was found and the limit of detection (LOD, according to the 3σ/slope) for Cu²⁺ ions was calculated to be 5.8 µM. Furthermore, NC-Cu was effectively functional in the living cells (KYSE30 cells) to trace Cu²⁺ ions.

A Bis(Salamo)-Based Fluorogenic Sensor for Highly Selective and Sequential Recognition of Cu2+ and B4O72- Ions in Semi-Aqueous Medium

A new type of multifunctional bis(salamo)-based fluorogenic sensor H₂BS was designed and synthesized. Under the action of V_DMF: V_H2O = 9: 1, the fluorogenic sensor can identify Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2-, in which N and O atoms can serve as binding sites for Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2-, the stoichiometry of the binding of the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS and Cu²⁺ has been confirmed by titration experiment, working curve, ESI-MS analysis and DFT calculation. The pH response experiment also confirmed that the fluorogenic sensor can recognize Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- in the pH range applicable to the physiological environment. The minimum detection limit of H₂BS for Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- recognition reaches 1.12 × 10^-7 and 5.56 × 10^-8 M, and the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS has been successfully applied to Cu²⁺ detection in actual water samples, and the test strip for detecting Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- was obtained. Meanwhile, the success of the test strip experiment made the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS to recognize Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- widely used in daily life. A new type of salamo-based multifunctional fluorogenic sensor H₂BS was designed and synthesized to identify Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- in aqueous solvent systems. Added Cu²⁺ to H₂BS can cause fluorescence quenching. Further experiments showed that H₂BS and Cu²⁺ form a stable 1:2 complex, while B₄O₇^2- can also cause fluorescence quenching of H₂BS, which is the occurrence of the PET effect. Meanwhile, H₂BS can be used for quantitative detection in the environment and rapid identification in life.

A turn-on luminescence probe based on amino-functionalized metal-organic frameworks for the selective detections of Cu2+, Pb2+ and pyrophosphate

A "turn-on" fluorescent probe based on amino-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (MOF-5-NH₂) is developed for the detection of Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and pyrophosphate (P₂O₇^4-, PPi). The fluorescence emission of fluorescent materials obtained by one-step synthesis is attributed to organic ligands. Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ coordinate with the amino group on the surface of the MOF-5-NH₂, which is ascribed to the host-guest electron transfer between analyte and probe, giving rise to the fluorescence quenching. After adding PPi, the intense affinity between Cu²⁺ and PPi remove Cu²⁺ from the MOF-5-NH₂, blocking of the electron transfer process, and the fluorescence can be recovered. The limit of detection is 0.057, 0.25 and 0.32 μmol L^-1 for the detection of Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and PPi, respectively. This turn-on mode based fluorescent probe shows preferable sensitivity and specificity to detect Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and PPi. These results demonstrate that the fluorescent MOF-5-NH₂ as a sensing platform displays remarkably performance.

Highly efficient detection of Cu2+ and B4 O7 2- based on a recyclable asymmetric salamo-based probe in aqueous medium

An asymmetric salamo-based probe molecule (H₂ L) was synthesized and characterized structurally. When DMF/H₂ O (9:1) was used as the solvent, it was shown probe H₂ L has high sensitivity to Cu²⁺ . Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and theoretical calculation, it was found that probe H₂ L could form a more stable complex (1:1) with Cu²⁺ , the minimum limit of detection (LOD) of H₂ L for Cu²⁺ was calculated as 9.95 × 10^-8 M. In addition, probe H₂ L could also be used to identify B₄ O₇ ^2- under the same detection conditions and the minimum LOD of H₂ L for B₄ O₇ ^2- was calculated as 4.98 × 10^-7 M. At the same time, density functional theory theoretical calculation further proved the flexibility of probe H₂ L. Through the action of EDTA, probe H₂ L had a cyclic ability to recognize Cu²⁺ , and showed a better response in the physiological pH range; probe H₂ L had the characteristics of fast recognition speed and high efficiency. In addition, with probe H₂ L test paper for Cu²⁺ and B₄ O₇ ^2- , the effect was more obvious. Meanwhile, probe H₂ L can be used to quantitatively detect Cu²⁺ in water samples.

Coumarin-Based Dual Chemosensor for Colorimetric and Fluorescent Detection of Cu2+ in Water Media

A novel coumarin derivative (5) was synthesized and used as a colorimetric and fluorescent probe for selective detection of Cu²⁺ ions in the presence of other metal ions, with the detection limits of 5.7 and 4.0 ppb, respectively. Cu²⁺ ion reacts with probe 5 to form a 1:1 stoichiometry complex, resulting in a remarkable redshift of absorption maximum from 460 to 510 nm, as well as almost completely quenching fluorescence intensity of probe 5 at the wavelength of 536 nm. These changes can be distinctly observed by naked eyes. In addition, the working pH range of probe 5 is wide and suitable for physiological conditions, thus probe 5 may be used for detection of Cu²⁺ ions in living cells. The stable structures of probe 5 and its 1:1 complex with Cu²⁺ ion were optimized at the PBE0/6-31+G(d) level of theory. The presence and characteristics of bonds in compounds were studied through atoms in a molecule and natural bond orbital analysis. The formation of the complex led to a strong transfer of electron density from probe 5 as a ligand to Cu²⁺ ion, resulting in breaking the π-electron conjugated system, which is the cause of fluorescence quenching and color change of 5-Cu²⁺ complex.