A new acridine derivative as a fluorescent chemosensor for zinc ions in an 100% aqueous solution: a comparison of binding property with anthracene derivative

BODIPY derivatives as fluorescent reporters of molecular activities in living cells

Fluorescent compounds have become indispensable tools for imaging molecular activities in the living cell. 4,4-Difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) is currently one of the most popular fluorescent reporters due to its unique photophysical properties. This review provides a general survey and presents a summary of recent advances in the development of new BODIPY-based cellular biomarkers and biosensors. The review starts with the consideration of the properties of BODIPY derivatives required for their application as cellular reporters. Then review provides examples of the design of sensors for different biologically important molecules, ions, membrane potential, temperature and viscosity defining the live cell status. Special attention is payed to BODPY-based phototransformable reporters.

The bibliography includes 339 references.

A unique benzimidazole-naphthalene hybrid molecule for independent detection of Zn2+ and N3- ions: Experimental and theoretical investigations

Single crystal X-ray structurally characterized benzimidazole-naphthalene hybrid (NABI) functions as a unique dual analyte sensor that can detect Zn²⁺ cation and N₃^- anion independently. The NABI forms chelate with Zn²⁺ to inhibit internal charge transfer (ICT) and CHN isomerisation resulting chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF). On the other hand, the sensing of N₃^- is based on formation of supramolecular H-bonded rigid assembly. The association constant of NABI for Zn²⁺ and N₃^- ions are 19 × 10⁴ M^-1 and 11 × 10² M^-1, respectively. Corresponding limit of detections (LOD) are 6.85 × 10^-8 and 1.82 × 10^-7 M, respectively. NABI efficiently detects intracellular Zn²⁺ and N₃^- ions with no cytotoxicity on J774A.1cells under fluorescence microscope. DFT studies unlock underlying spectroscopic properties of free NABI and Zn²⁺/N₃^- bound forms.

Benzothiazole integrated into a cryptand for ESIPT-based selective chemosensor for Zn2+ ions

A novel 2(2′-hydroxyphenyl) benzothiazole-based cryptand (L) exhibits high fluorescence intensity in the presence of Zn²⁺ ions by stopping the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process with a detection limit of 0.20 μM.

A Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Selective Detection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ Ions

A new bi-functional chemosensor 1 based on 3,5-dichlorosalicylaldehyde and 2-(methylthio)aniline has been synthesized. It can detect Cu²⁺ with a color change from pale yellow to dark yellow in aqueous solution. The selective mechanism of 1 for Cu²⁺ was proposed to be the enhancement of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) band, which was explained by theoretical calculations. The sensor 1 could be used to detect and quantify Cu²⁺ in water samples. In addition, the sensor 1 displayed "turn-on" fluorescence response only to Zn²⁺, based on an effect of chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF). Therefore, 1 can serve as a 'single sensor for two different targets' with dual modes.

Highly selective and sensitive fluorescence detection of Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) ions by using an acridine sensor

Fluorescence spectroscopy investigations of the new acridine derivative bis(N,N-dimethylaminemethylene)acridine (3) show remarkable selectivity and sensitivity towards Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) ions in methanol and for the latter even in water. Through the chelation of the metal ions the present PET effect is quenched, significantly enhancing the emission intensity of the fluorophore. In solution, the bonding situation is studied by fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy, as well as ESI-TOF mass-spectrometry measurements. The solid state environment is investigated by X-ray diffraction and computational calculations. Here, we can show the complexation of the zinc and cadmium ions by the methylene bridged amine receptors as well as by the nitrogen atom of the acridine system.

A simple-structured acridine derivative as a fluorescent enhancement chemosensor for the detection of Pd2+ in aqueous media

4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl) acridine (sensor 1) has been discovered and synthesized as a simple-structured Pd(2+) fluorescent probe. Sensor 1 showed highly selective recognition toward Pd(2+) over other examined metal ions in aqueous solution. Under the optimized condition, fluorescence intensity was linearly proportional to the concentration of Pd(2+) in the 0-1 μM concentration range with detection limits of 0.021 μM. The EDTA-adding and stoichiometry experiments indicated that sensor 1 was a reversible chemosensor for Pd(2+) with a 2:1 ligand/metal complex at neutral pH. Moreover, the sensor 1 was also successfully applied to determination of Pd(2+) in water samples and palladium-containing catalyst, which made it attractive for sensing applications.

A simple pincer-type chemosensor for reversible fluorescence turn-on detection of zinc ion at physiological pH range

A dihydrazone based pincer-type chemosensor (Y) which could detect zinc at physiological pH range with reversible fluorescence “Off–On–Off”.

A cap-type Schiff base acting as a fluorescence sensor for zinc(II) and a colorimetric sensor for iron(II), copper(II), and zinc(II) in aqueous media

A simple and low cost chemosensor is described. This sensor could simultaneously detect three biologically important metal ions through fluorogenic (Zn(2+)) and chromogenic (Fe(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+)) methods in aqueous solution. The sensor could function as a "turn-on" fluorescence receptor only to Zn(2+) ions. In addition, the sensor could be successfully applied to the detection of intracellular Zn(2+). Meanwhile, the sensor displayed an obvious red color upon selective binding with Fe(2+). Therefore, the sensor could serve as a useful tool for the discrimination of Fe(2+) from Fe(3+) in aqueous media. Moreover, the sensor also showed color changes from yellow to colorless upon selective binding with Zn(2+) and Cu(2+), respectively. The detection limit of the sensor for Cu(2+) (1.5 μM) is far below the guidelines of the World Health Organization (30 μM) as the maximum allowable copper concentration in drinking water, and therefore it is capable of being a practical system for the monitoring of Cu(2+) concentrations in aqueous samples. These results provide a new approach for selectively recognizing the most important three trace elements in the human body simultaneously, for Zn(2+) by emission spectra and Fe(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+) by the naked eye.

A single chemosensor for multiple analytes: fluorogenic detection of Zn2+ and OAc− ions in aqueous solution, and an application to bioimaging

A single fluorescent chemosensor 1 for multiple analytes (Zn²⁺ and OAc⁻) has been developed and it can monitor Zn²⁺ ions in living cells.

Phosphorescent sensor for biological mobile zinc

A new phosphorescent zinc sensor (ZIrF) was constructed, based on an Ir(III) complex bearing two 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy) cyclometalating ligands and a neutral 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligand. A zinc-specific di(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) receptor was introduced at the 4-position of the phen ligand via a methylene linker. The cationic Ir(III) complex exhibited dual phosphorescence bands in CH(3)CN solutions originating from blue and yellow emission of the dfppy and phen ligands, respectively. Zinc coordination selectively enhanced the latter, affording a phosphorescence ratiometric response. Electrochemical techniques, quantum chemical calculations, and steady-state and femtosecond spectroscopy were employed to establish a photophysical mechanism for this phosphorescence response. The studies revealed that zinc coordination perturbs nonemissive processes of photoinduced electron transfer and intraligand charge-transfer transition occurring between DPA and phen. ZIrF can detect zinc ions in a reversible and selective manner in buffered solution (pH 7.0, 25 mM PIPES) with K(d) = 11 nM and pK(a) = 4.16. Enhanced signal-to-noise ratios were achieved by time-gated acquisition of long-lived phosphorescence signals. The sensor was applied to image biological free zinc ions in live A549 cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy. A fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope detected an increase in photoluminescence lifetime for zinc-treated A549 cells as compared to controls. ZIrF is the first successful phosphorescent sensor that detects zinc ions in biological samples.

Fluorescent chemosensors for Zn(2+)

In the past decade, fluorescent chemosensors for zinc ion (Zn(2+)) have attracted great attention because of the biological significance of zinc combined with the simplicity and high sensitivity of fluorescence assays. Chemosensors can be divided into a fluorophore, a spacer and a receptor unit; the receptor is the central processing unit (CPU) of a chemosensor. This tutorial review will classify zinc chemosensors based on receptor types.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of peptidyl fluorescent probe for Zn2+ in aqueous solution

A new fluorescent peptide probe for the detection of Zn(2+) was synthesized on the basis of zinc binding ligands in zinc enzymes. The peptide that has a unique amino acid sequence displayed a great selectivity for Zn(2+) in the presence of several transition metal ions in aqueous solution. The reversibility, binding stoichiometry, binding affinity, and pH sensitivity of the sensor were studied. Further, on-bead application of the peptide as chemosensors was demonstrated.

Simple but Effective Way to Sense Pyrophosphate and Inorganic Phosphate by Fluorescence Changes

A new fluorescent chemosensor based on the acridine-Zn(II) derivative effectively recognizes pyrophosphate and inorganic phosphate at pH 7.4. Acridine derivative 1 displayed a fluorescent quenching effect with pyrophosphate; on the other hand, a large fluorescent enhancement was observed with inorganic phosphate. [structure: see text].