Highly Selective Turn-On Fluorogenic Chemosensor for Robust Quantification of Zn(II) Based on Aggregation Induced Emission Enhancement Feature

Photoelectric Multi-Signal Output Sensor Based on Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Polymer Film Modified by Novel Aggregation-Induced Emission Probes

Optical sensors, especially fluorescence sensors, have been widely used because of their advantages in sensing, such as the high sensitivity, good selectivity, no radiation source, and easy operation. Here, we report an example of fluorescence sensing based on two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic polymers and highlight that the material can achieve a fast response and multi-signal output. This 2DPTPAK+TAPB-based sensor can quickly detect aromatic hydrocarbons and Fe3+ by the fluorescence signal or electrical resistance signal.

Hectorite/Phenanthroline-Based Nanomaterial as Fluorescent Sensor for Zn Ion Detection: A Theoretical and Experimental Study

The development of fluorescent materials that can act as sensors for the determination of metal ions in biological fluids is important since they show, among others, high sensitivity and specificity. However, most of the molecules that are used for these purposes possess a very low solubility in aqueous media, and, thus, it is necessary to adopt some derivation strategies. Clay minerals, for example, hectorite, as natural materials, are biocompatible and available in large amounts at a very low cost that have been extensively used as carrier systems for the delivery of different hydrophobic species. In the present work, we report the synthesis and characterization of a hectorite/phenanthroline nanomaterial as a potential fluorescent sensor for Zn ion detection in water. The interaction of phenanthroline with the Ht interlaminar space was thoroughly investigated, via both theoretical and experimental studies (i.e., thermogravimetry, FT-IR, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies and XRD measurements), while its morphology was imaged by scanning electron microscopy. Afterwards, the possibility to use it as sensor for the detection of Zn2+ ions, in comparison to other metal ions, was investigated through fluorescent measurements, and the stability of the solid Ht/Phe/Zn complex was assessed by different experimental and theoretical measurements.

Shedding Novel Photophysical Insights Toward Discriminative Detection of Three Toxic Heavy Metal Ions and a hazard class 1 nitro-explosive By Using a Simple AIEE Active Luminogen

In this work, we introduced a simple aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) sensor (PHCS) which can selectively detect and discriminate three environmentally and biologically imperative heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Co2+ and Hg2+) and a hazard class 1 categorized nitro-explosive picric acid (PA) in differential media. By virtue of its weak fluorescence attributes in pure organic medium owing to the synergistic operation of multiple photophysical quenching mechanisms, the molecular probe showcased highly selective 'TURN ON' fluorogenic response towards hazardous Hg2+ with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 97 nM. Comprehensive investigation of binding mechanism throws light on the cumulative effect of probe-metal complexation induced chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect and subsequent AIEE activation within the formed probe-metal adducts. Noteworthily, the probe (PHCS) can be readily used in real water samples for the quantitative determination of Hg2+ in a wide concentration range. In addition, the probe displayed modest colorimetric recognition performances to selectively detect and discriminate two essential heavy metal ions (Cu2+ and Co2+) with a LOD of 96 nM and 65 nM for Cu2+ and Co2+ respectively, in semi-aqueous medium. Intriguingly, based on high photoluminescence efficiency, the AIEE active nano-aggregated PHCS displayed a remarkable propensity to be used as a selective and ultra-sensitive 'TURN-OFF' fluorogenic chemosensor towards PA with LOD of 34.4 ppb in aqueous medium. Finally, we specifically shed light on the interaction of PHCS hydrosol towards PA using some unprecedented techniques, which helped uncover new photophysical insights of probe-explosive molecule interaction.

A pyrene-induced PET-based chemosensor for biologically important Zn(II) ions: application in test strips and live cell imaging studies

Cation and anion sensing is vital owing to their universal dispersion in ecosystems and biological functions. It has been shown that fluorescent receptors based on organic platforms are efficient for detecting a number of ions and have many advantages such as low cost, superior sensitivity and simplicity in installation. This study demonstrates the design and synthesis of a novel receptor (E)-3-[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]-2-(pyren-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (DTQ) for the rapid recognition of Zn(II) ions. DTQ exhibited a significant fluorometric "turn-on" characteristic towards Zn(II) at λmax 444 nm in aqueous acetonitrile by inhibiting the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and -CN- process. The ESI-MS analysis and Job's plot experimental results confirmed stoichiometric 1 : 1 complex formation between DTQ and Zn(II). Fluorometric investigations revealed the detection limit and association constant of DTQ towards Zn(II), which were found to be 13.4 nM and 1.47 × 105 M-1, respectively. DTQ was employed to sense Zn(II) on low-cost test strips. The present research findings imply that DTQ can function as an effective sensor for Zn(II).

A fluorescence based dual sensor for Zn2+ and PO43- and the application of soft computing methods to predict machine learning outcomes

A phenolphthalein-based Schiff base, 3,3-bis-{4-hydroxy-3-[(pyridine-2-ylmethylimino)-methyl]-phenyl}-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one (PAP), has been synthesized and used for selective fluorescence 'turn on' and 'turn off' sensing of Zn2+ and PO43- respectively. The limit of detection using the 3σ method for Zn2+ is found to be 19.3 nM and that for PO43- is 8.3 μM. The sensing mechanism of PAP for Zn2+ ions has been explained by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, TRPL, ESI-MS, FT-IR, and DFT based calculations. Taking advantage of this fluorescence 'on-off' behavior of PAP in the sequential presence of Zn2+ and PO43- a two input fuzzy logic (FL) operation has been constructed. The chemosensor PAP can thus act as a metal ion and anion responsive molecular switch, and its corresponding emission intensity is used to mimic numerous FL functions. To replace various expensive, time-consuming experimental procedures, we implemented machine learning soft computing tools, such as fuzzy-logic, artificial neural networks (ANNs), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS), to correlate as well as predict the fluorescence intensity in the presence of any equivalent ratio of Zn2+ and PO43-. The statistical performance measures (MSE and RMSE, for example) show that the projected values of the cation and anion sensing data by the ANFIS network are the best and closer to the experimental values.

A very rare fluorescent chemosensor of zinc(II) exhibiting AIEE, ESIPT and TICT: Spectroscopic, crystallographic and theoretical exploration

The basic systems in this study are HL (1; 1:2 condensation product of 2,6-diformyl-4-ethylphenol and o-anisidine) and its ZnII and CdII complexes of composition [ZnII(LH)Cl2]·CH3OH (2) and [CdII(LH)Cl2] (3), all of which are synthesized and characterized by CHN elemental analyses, single crystal X-ray crystallography, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum. It has been established from the following experimental and theoretical studies that 1 is a fluorescent turn on sensor of ZnII ion and it exhibits all of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), photoinduced electron transfer (PET), twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) and aggregation induced enhanced emission (AIEE): (i) Detailed absorption and emission (steady state / time resolved) studies in various single solvents, in solvent mixtures, with pH variation, with various single metal ions, with mixtures of metal ions, on varying temperature and on varying viscosity; (ii) dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in solvent mixtures; (iii) density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations in ground and excites states of 1-3. It is shown that 1 can be efficaciously applied in inkless writing with the "write - erase - write" facility. The mechanisms/reasons of the observed properties have been addressed. The difference in fluorescence of ZnII and CdII complexes, unusual case of crystal structures of probe and complexes with ZnII and CdII, unusual features in the structures of 2 and 3 as well as a structure-property correlation have been discussed.

Viscosity-sensitive and AIE-active bimodal fluorescent probe for the selective detection of OCl- and Cu2+: a dual sensing approach via DFT and biological studies using green gram seeds

A novel dual-mode viscosity-sensitive and AIE-active fluorescent chemosensor based on the naphthalene coupled pyrene (NCP) moiety was designed and synthesized for the selective detection of OCl- and Cu2+. In non-viscous media, NCP exhibited weak fluorescence; however, with an increase in viscosity using various proportions of glycerol, the fluorescence intensity was enhanced to 461 nm with a 6-fold increase in fluorescence quantum yields, which could be utilized for the quantitative determination of viscosity. Interestingly, NCP exhibited novel AIE characteristics in terms of size and growth in H2O-CH3CN mixtures with high water contents and different volume percentage of water, which was investigated using fluorescence, DLS study and SEM analysis. Interestingly, this probe can also be effectively employed as a dual-mode fluorescent probe for light up fluorescent detection of OCl- and Cu2+ at different emission wavelengths of 439 nm and 457 nm via chemodosimetric and chelation pathways, respectively. The fast-sensing ability of NCP towards OCl- was shown by a low detection limit of 0.546 μM and the binding affinity of NCP with Cu2+ was proved by a low detection limit of 3.97 μM and a high binding constant of 1.66 × 103 M-1. The sensing mechanism of NCP towards OCl- and Cu2+ was verified by UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence analysis, 1H-NMR analysis, mass spectroscopy, DFT study and Job plot analysis. For practical applications, the binding of NCP with OCl- and Cu2+ was determined using a dipstick method and a cell imaging study in a physiological medium using green gram seeds.

Sensing of picric acid using an AIEE active "Turn Off" fluorescent probe derived from hydroxy naphthaldehyde and benzyloxy benzaldehyde

A novel Schiff base with AIEE characteristics has been developed and used as a chemosensor for picric acid in aqueous media. The Schiff base 1-((E)-((E)-(4-(benzyloxy) benzylidene) hydrazono) methyl) naphthalen-2-ol [BBHN] with strong fluorescence emission was obtained by the simple condensation of 1-(hydrazonomethyl)naphthan-2-ol and 4-benzoxy benzaldehyde. The characterization of BBHN was done using Fourier Transfer Infra-Red, UV-visible, Magnetic Resonance (1H and 13C) spectroscopy, and HRMS. The sensing behaviour of BBHN aggregates towards nitro explosive was then investigated. The aggregates of BBHN showed a quick, highly selective, and sensitive fluorescence 'Turn Off' response towards picric acid (PA) in an aqueous medium among various other nitroaromatics. The limit of detection was 4.04 µM with 2.03 × 106 M-1 as the quenching constant. The fluorescence "Turn Off" response in the presence of PA is mainly due to π-π interactions, and non-covalent hydrogen bonding interactions. Moreover, steady-state fluorescence lifetime measurement and Stern - Volmer plots reveal that the fluorescence quenching followed mixed quenching strategies.

Red-Emitting AIEE-Active Rhodamine-Based Ionic Liquid for the Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection of Mercury Ions

A highly fluorescent, red-emitting rhodamine-based imidazolium ionic liquid (RhB-IL) was synthesized, and its structure was extensively verified using various spectroscopic techniques. The novel molecule showed exceptional selectivity toward Hg2+ ions over other competitive metal ions. Additionally, inspired by the solution results, a paper-based device was fabricated by embedding RhB-IL on paper strips and tested for the on-site detection of Hg2+ ions using a portable UV light source. Significantly, the device displayed excellent PL sensing behavior toward Hg2+ with a detection limit of 0.21 nM. In addition, RhB-IL showed the phenomena of aggregation-induced enhanced emission. In fact, when compared to the pure THF solution of RhB-IL, a remarkable 7.7-fold increase in PL intensity was seen for the 90% water fraction. Evidently, this is the first report of a paper-based Hg2+ detection system that uses a red fluorescent ionic liquid.

Synthesis of Fluorophore Based Functional Material for Selective Detection of Al3+ Ion in Water and Decoding the AIEE Property of Its Hydrosol

A designed aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) active fluorescence probe 2,3-Bis-[(2-hydroxy-napthalen-1-ylmethylene)-amino]-but-2-enedinitrile (L) was synthesized via one step condensation method. The probe shows swift sensitivity and selectivity toward Al3+over other relevant metal ions and also exhibits significant AIEE phenomena in methanol/water mixture. Significant enhancement of fluorescence intensity is triggered via chelation-enhanced fluorescence through complex (Al3+-L) formation. A 2:1 metal to ligand ratio is observed from Job's plot based on UV - Vis absorption titration and detection limit (LOD) is found as low as 31.14 nM. Moreover, 1H NMR titrations and fluorescence reversibility by adding Al3+ and EDTA sequentially had been performed to establish the binding site of sensor complex (Al3+-L). Time-resolved photoluminescence, dynamic light scattering, optical microscopy, and on-site visualization studies have been performed to understand the AIEE mechanism of L in different volume percentage of water and methanol mixture. An INHIBIT molecular logic gate has been constructed utilizing the fluorescence behavior of the probe, L in presence of Al3+ and strong chelating ligand EDTA.

A Highly Selective and Sensitive Sequential Recognition Probe Zn2+ and H2PO4- Based on Chiral Thiourea Schiff Base

A series of novel chiral thiourea fluorescent probes HL₁-HL₆ were designed and synthesized from (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, phenyl isothiocyanate, and different substituted salicylic aldehydes. All of the compounds were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS. They exhibit high selectivity and sensitivity to Zn²⁺ in the presence of nitrate ions with the detection limit of 2.3 × 10^-8 M (HL₅). Meanwhile, their zinc (II) complexes (L-ZnNO₃) showed continuous response to H₂PO₄^- in acetonitrile solution. The identification processes could further be verified by supramolecular chemistry data analysis, X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis, and theoretical study. The research provides reliable evidence for an explanation of the mechanism of action of thiourea involved in coordination, which is important for the application of thiourea fluorescent probes. In short, the sensors HL₁-HL₆ based on chiral thiourea Schiff base will be promising detection devices for Zn²⁺ and H₂PO₄^-.

Fluorescence 'Turn-on' Dual Sensor for Selective Detection of Cd2+ and H2AsO4- in Water

A multi responsive fluorescent probe, N',2-bis(E-4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothiohydrazideV(H₂L) has been synthesized through one step condensation method. Probe, H₂L shows 'turn-on' dual sensing properties towards Cd²⁺ and H₂AsO₄^- at two distinct wavelength. The probe (H₂L) is spectroscopically characterized and the chemo-sensing mechanism has been demonstrated through ¹H NMR, absorption, steady state and time resolved emission study. The most promising advantage of the probe is its application in the one-pot detection of Cd²⁺ (λ_em = 462 nm) and H₂AsO₄^-(λ_em = 492 nm) where intense emission appears at two different wavelengths and the observed limit of detection (LOD) of H₂L towards Cd²⁺ and H₂AsO₄^- are 2.67 × 10^-8 M and 5.14 × 10^-6 M respectively. Further the 'turn-on' emission property of H₂L towards Cd²⁺ is applied to construct INHIBIT logic gate.

Zinc status in public health: exploring emerging research trends through bibliometric analysis of the historical context from 1978 to 2022

The current study aims to provide a roadmap for future research by analyzing the research structures and trends in scholarly publications related to the status of zinc in public health. Only journal articles published between 1978 and 2022 are included in the refined bibliographical outputs retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database. The first section announces findings based on WoS categories, such as discipline heterogeneity, times cited and publications over time, and citation reports. The second section then employs VoSViewer software for bibliometric analysis, which includes a thorough examination of co-authorship among researchers, organizations, and countries and a count of all bibliographic databases among documents. The final section discusses the research's weaknesses and strengths in zinc status, public health, and potential future directions; 7158 authors contributed to 1730 papers (including 339 with publications, more than three times). "Keen, C.L." is a researcher with the most publications and a better understanding of zinc status in public health. Meanwhile, the USA has been the epicenter of research on the status of zinc in public health due to the highest percentage of publications with the most citations and collaboration with the rest of the world, with the top institution being the University of California, Davis. Future research can be organized collaboratively based on hot topics from co-occurrence network mapping and bibliographic couplings to improve zinc status and protect public health.

A turn-on fluorescent probe based on ESIPT and AIEE mechanisms for the detection of butyrylcholinesterase activity in living cells and in non-alcoholic fatty liver of zebrafish

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) are two important cholinesterase enzymes in human metabolism which are closely related to various diseases of the liver. BChE and AChE are difficult to be distinguished due to their similarity in biochemical properties. Therefore, developing BChE-specific probes with high sensitivity and low background reading is desirable for the relevant biological applications. Herein, we reported the design and synthesis of a fluorescent probe HBT-BChE for biological detection and imaging of BChE. The probe is triggered by BChE-mediated hydrolysis, releasing a fluorophore that holds AIEE and ESIPT properties with large Stokes shift (>100 nm), rendering the probe features of low background interference and high sensitivity. The probe can also distinguish BChE from AChE with a low detection limit of 7.540 × 10^-4 U/mL. Further in vitro studies have shown the ability of HBT-BChE to detect intracellular BChE activity, as well as to evaluate the efficiency of the BChE inhibitor. More importantly, the in vivo studies of imaging the BChE activity level in liver tissues using zebrafish as the model animal demonstrated the potential of HBT-BChE as a powerful tool for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

A new fluorescent probe for sensing Al3+ ions in the solution phase and CH3COO- in the solid state with aggregation induced emission (AIE) activity

An AIE (aggregation induced emission) active probe DFP-AMQ was designed and synthesized as a hexa-coordinated N₂O donor chelator for the selective sensing of Al³⁺ colorimetrically as well as fluorimetrically with a 27-fold fluorescence enhancement for CH₃CN-H₂O (9 : 1, v/v, pH 7.2, HEPES buffer). The fluorescence enhancement occurred through the blocking of ESIPT, chelation enhanced fluorescence effect (CHEF) arose, and as a result fluorescence enhancement was observed through 1 : 1 complexation with Al³⁺ ions. Detailed spectroscopic studies including UV-Vis, FTIR, ¹H NMR, and HRMS studies were carried out to characterize the probable structure of DFP-AMQ including the complexation of DFP-AMQ with Al³⁺ ions. The spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric titrations revealed strong binding towards Al³⁺ and the K _d values were obtained from UV-Vis (3.26 × 10^-5 M^-1) and fluorescence titration (2.02 × 10^-5 M^-1). The limit of detection of Al³⁺ by DFP-AMQ was 1.11 μM. The quantum yields of DFP-AMQ and [DFP-AMQ-Al]⁺ were calculated to be 0.008 and 0.211, respectively. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies showed that the sizes of the particles increased with increasing water percentage due to aggregation. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) studies revealed interesting morphological changes in microstructures in which DFP-AMQ demonstrated a rod-like shape, which was converted to a spherical-like shape in the presence of Al³⁺ and when DFP-AMQ aggregated in H₂O it showed aggregated block-like shape. In the solid phase, DFP-AMQ with nitrate has no particular shape, but in the presence of acetate, it converts to stone-like shape. This probe (DFP-AMQ) could be employed for on-site Al³⁺ ion detection in the solid state.

Combined Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Rubbing-Induced Fluorescence Behavior of a Luminophore in the Solid State

It is intricate to break and make chemical bonds in solid states compared to their solution states, so it is imperative to ascertain green proficient approaches by regulating the solid-state structures and their related material properties. Here, the rubbing-induced photoluminescence behavior of a luminophore (RIL) of the benzimidazole family in the solid state has been accomplished. Interestingly, upon gentle rubbing or mere scratching, solid-state fluorescence from the nonemissive pristine RIL was observed due to the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomenon in the solid state, for which the phenolic moiety is present in the molecule and is accountable. The structure-property relationship of RIL and the mechanism responsible for this solid-state fluorescence characteristics have been explained with the help of experimental (using the single-crystal structure, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, etc.) and theoretical (by DFT and TDDFT) studies. The crystal arrangements with different stacking interactions and the SEM images after being rubbed revealed that the mechanical force- or pressure-induced slight deformation in the crystal arrangement notably facilitated the strong emission in the solid state. This rubbing-induced solid-state fluorescence in a new luminophore (RIL) through stacking of layers restricting the molecular motion has been developed here for the first time, and it can be explicitly employed in steganography techniques for data security. This present study will open up a new insight into the use of this RIL as a solid-state smart material for data security in coding devices in the future, and this developed approach may be helpful to ameliorate the design of new-generation smart materials by modifying the structure to attain other characteristics.

AIE -active TPA modified Schiff base for successive sensing of Cu2+ and His via an on-off-on method and its application in bioimaging

In this article, a novel triphenylamine-modified salicylaldehyde Schiff base 2-(((4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)imino)methyl)-4-(pyridine-4-yl)phenol (HL) was synthesized and structurally characterized. HL possessed D-π-A structure and exhibited typical AIE property in THF/H₂O. It was applied to selectively recognize Cu²⁺ through an on-off mode in THF/H₂O (1/9, v/v), and the fluorescence attenuation was attributed to a paramagnetic quenching effect of Cu²⁺ together with the abatement of HL aggregates. Hence, the detection limit achieved was as low as 1.32 × 10^-7 M. The spectroscopic and ESI-HRMS results revealed a 1 : 2 complexation ratio of Cu²⁺ with HL. The mechanism for sensing Cu²⁺ was further confirmed by performing DFT calculations. Owing to the large affinity between Cu²⁺ and His, the resultant CuL2 system was further used to detect His via the off-on method based on the displacement of ligands. The detection limit for His reached 5.14 × 10^-8 M. Furthermore, HL was available to prepare handy indicator papers for the on-site recognition of Cu²⁺ and His. Confocal fluorescent imaging demonstrated that HL could sequentially respond to intracellular Cu²⁺ and His.

ESIPT-Active 8-Hydroxyquinoline-Based Fluorescence Sensor for Zn(II) Detection and Aggregation-Induced Emission of the Zn(II) Complex

A D-π-A type quinoline derivative, 2-(((4-(1, 2, 2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)quinolin-8-ol (HL), was synthesized and structurally characterized. The five-membered ring formed by the O-H···N hydrogen bond in HL contributed to the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behavior of HL, which was further verified by theoretical computations. Upon coordination with Zn²⁺, the hydroxyl proton in HL was removed, resulting in the inhibition of ESIPT. In the meanwhile, the formed Zn ₂ L ₄ complex displayed aggregation-induced emission (AIE) character in THF/H₂O mixtures, which is conducive to the fluorescence enhancement in aqueous media. Structure analysis suggested that the origin of the AIE characteristic was attributed to restriction of intramolecular rotations along with the formation of J-aggregates. Based on ESIPT coupled with AIE, HL could recognize Zn(II) in aqueous media via an orange fluorescence turn-on mode. Benefitting from the AIE property, chemosensor HL was successfully applied to fabricate test strips for rapid sensing of Zn(II) ions.

A Quinoxaline-Naphthaldehyde Conjugate for Colorimetric Determination of Copper Ion

This work facilitates detection of bivalent copper ion by a simple Schiff base probe QNH based on a quinoxaline−naphthaldehyde framework. The detailed study in absorption spectroscopy and theoretical aspects and crystal study of the probe and probe−copper complex has been discussed. The detection limit of the probe in the presence of Cu²⁺ is 0.45 µM in HEPES−buffer/acetonitrile (3/7, v/v) medium for absorption study. The reversibility of the probe−copper complex has been investigated by EDTA. The selective visual detection of copper has been established also in gel form.

Esterase-Activated Precipitating Strategy to Achieve Highly Specific Detection and Long-Term Imaging of Calcium Ions by Aggregation-Induced Phosphorescence Probe

Spatial and temporal monitoring of bioactive targets such as calcium ions is vitally significant for their essential roles in physiological and biochemical functions. Herein, we proposed an esterase-activated precipitating strategy to achieve highly specific identification and long-term bioimaging of calcium ions via lighting up the calcium ions by precipitation using a water-soluble aggregation-induced phosphorescence (AIP) probe. The designed probe CaP2 has an AIP behavior and can be efficiently aggregated by calcium ions through the coupling coordination of carboxylic acid and cyanide groups, which enables it to light up Ca²⁺ by precipitating-triggered phosphorescence. Four hydrophilic groups of tetraethylene glycol were introduced to endow the resulting probe CaP3 with extraordinary water solubility as well as excellent cellular penetration. Only when the probe CaP3 penetrates inside the live cells the existing esterase in cells can activate the probe to be transformed active CaP2 probe selectively binding with calcium ion in the surroundings. The probe was used to further evaluate the imaging of intracellular calcium ions in model organisms. The excellent imaging performance of CaP3 in Arabidopsis thaliana seedling roots demonstrates that CaP3 has the excellent capability of monitoring calcium ions in live-cell imaging, and furthermore CaP3 exhibits much better photostability and thereby greater potential in long-term imaging. This work established a general esterase-activated precipitating strategy to achieve specific detection and bioimaging in situ triggered by esterase in live cells, and established a water-soluble aggregation-induced phosphorescence probe with high selectivity to achieve specific sensing and long-term imaging of calcium ions in live cells.

Highly Sensitive 'on-off' Pyrene Based AIEgen for Selective Sensing of Copper (II) Ions in Aqueous Media

A Fluorescent chemosensor based on pyrene scaffold, 5-diethylamino-2-(pyren-1-yliminomethyl)-phenol (PDS) is synthesized using condensation method. It displays novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomena in its aggregated/solid state. The AIE characteristic of PDS is studied in CH₃CN/H₂O mixtures at different volume percentage of water and morphology of the aggregated particles are investigated by DLS and optical fluorescence microscopic study. The probe is aggregated into ordered one-dimensional (1-D) rod like microcrystals and exhibit high efficiency of solid-state emission with green colour. By taking advantage of its interesting AIE feature, the aggregated hydrosol has been utilized as 'off-on' type fluorescence switching chemosensor with superb selectivity and sensitivity towards Cu²⁺ions and the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as low as 6.3 µM. A high Stern-Volmer quenching constant was estimated to be 2.88 × 10⁵ M^-1. The proposed chemosensor with AIE feature reveals a prospective view for the on-site visual recognition of Cu²⁺ ions in fluorescent paper strips and the synthesized probe is also exploited to find out the concentration of Cu²⁺ions in real water samples.

Sensitive visual detection of intracellular zinc ions based on signal-on polydopamine carbon dots

The concentration of intracellular zinc ions is a significant clinical parameter for diagnosis. However, it is still a challenge for direct visual detection of zinc ions in cells at single-cell level. To address this issue, herein, water-soluble amino-rich polydopamine carbon quantum dots (PDA-CQDs) were successfully synthesized, with strong blue-green fluorescence as the probes for zinc ions detection in cells. The structure and properties of PDA-CQDs were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR), UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis), and fluorescence spectroscopy. Importantly, by successfully linking salicylaldehyde (SA) to PDA-CQDs via nucleophilic reaction, the FL quenching and Zn ions induced FL-recovering system was built up, thus offering a signal-on platform for the detection of zinc ions. This PDA-CQDs-SA nanoprobe can be applied for the detection of Zn²⁺with a detection limit of 0.09μM, with good biocompatibility confirmed using cytotoxicity assay. Of significance, the results of fluorescence bioimaging showed that PDA-CQDs-SA is able to detect Zn²⁺in single-cell visually, with the detection limit of Zn ions in cells as low as 0.11μM per cell, which was confirmed using flow cytometry. Therefore, this work offers a potential probe for Zn²⁺detection in cells at single-cell level, towards the precise diagnosis of zinc ions related diseases.

Two luminescent film sensors constructed from new lanthanide coordination polymers for ratiometric detection of Zn2+ and NH3 in water and their white emission properties

Two luminescent film sensors constructed from new lanthanide coordination polymers based on a new tetra-monodentated ligand for ratiometric detection of Zn2+ and NH3 in water were developed.

A Novel L-Shaped Fluorescent Probe for AIE Sensing of Zinc (II) Ion by a DR/NIR Response

In the field of optical sensors, small molecules responsive to metal cations are of current interest. Probes displaying aggregation-induced emission (AIE) can solve the problems due to the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) molecules, scarcely emissive as aggregates in aqueous media and in tissues. The addition of a metal cation to an AIE ligand dissolved in solution can cause a "turn-on" of the fluorescence emission. Half-cruciform-shaped molecules can be a winning strategy to build specific AIE probes. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel L-shaped fluorophore containing a benzofuran core condensed with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde crossed with a nitrobenzene moiety. The novel AIE probe produces a fast colorimetric and fluorescence response toward zinc (II) in both in neutral and basic conditions. Acting as a tridentate ligand, it produces a complex with enhanced and red-shifted emission in the DR/NIR spectral range. The AIE nature of both compounds was examined on the basis of X-ray crystallography and DFT analysis.

Synthesis of Copper Metal Organic Framework Based on Schiff Base Tricarboxylate Ligand for Highly Selective and Sensitive Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol in Aqueous Medium

By using Schiff base tricarboxylate ligand 5-(4-carboxybenzylideneamino)isophthalic acid (H₃CIP), a new imine functionalized copper metal organic framework (MOF) has been synthesized solvothermally. It was fully characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and elemental mapping techniques. The as-synthesized MOF has been utilized as fluorescent probe for detection of nitro aromatic explosives (NAEs). The results show that the copper MOF can be developed into highly selective and sensitive sensor for detection of TNP in the aqueous medium via the "turn-off" quenching response. The linear fitting of the Stern-Volmer plot for TNP offered large quenching constant of 1.07 × 10⁴ M^-1 for Cu-MOF indicating the high sensitivity of the sensing process. Outstanding sensitivity of prepared material towards TNP detection was further validated by the low detection limit of 80 ppb (0.35 µM). The detailed mechanistic studies for their mode of action and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveals that photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes, as well as electrostatic interactions (i.e. H-bonding) are the key factors for the turn-off response toward TNP by this fluorescent sensor. Thus, this new LMOF owing to their high water stability and remarkable functional features are potential candidates which can be developed into selective and sensitive TNP detection devices.

Trivalent Cations Detection of Magnetic-Sensitive Microcapsules by Controlled-Release Fluorescence Off-On Sensor

A pyrene-based derivative, 2-((pyrene-1-ylmethylene)amino)ethanol (PE) nanoparticle, was encapsulated via water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion with the solvent evaporation method by one-pot reaction and utilized as a fluorescence turn-on sensor for detecting Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, and Al³⁺ ions. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) embedded in polycaprolactone (PCL) were used as the magnetic-sensitive polyelectrolyte microcapsule-triggered elements in the construction of the polymer matrix. The microcapsules were characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) titrations, quantum yield (Φ_f) calculations, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry (SQUID) studies. This novel responsive release of the microcapsule fluorescence of the turn-on sensor for detecting trivalent cations was due to the compound PE and the MNPs being incorporated well within the whole system, and an effective thermal and kinetic energy transfer between the core and shell structure efficiently occurred in the externally oscillating magnetic field. The magnetic-sensitive fluorescence turn-on microcapsules show potential for effective metal ion sensing in environmental monitoring and even biomedical applications. Under the optimal controlled-release probe fluorescence conditions with high-frequency magnetic field treatment, the limit of detection (LOD) reached 1.574–2.860 μM and recoveries ranged from 94.7–99.4% for those metals in tap water.

Zinc (II) and AIEgens: The "Clip Approach" for a Novel Fluorophore Family. A Review

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) compounds display a photophysical phenomenon in which the aggregate state exhibits stronger emission than the isolated units. The common term of "AIEgens" was coined to describe compounds undergoing the AIE effect. Due to the recent interest in AIEgens, the search for novel hybrid organic-inorganic compounds with unique luminescence properties in the aggregate phase is a relevant goal. In this perspective, the abundant, inexpensive, and nontoxic d10 zinc cation offers unique opportunities for building AIE active fluorophores, sensing probes, and bioimaging tools. Considering the novelty of the topic, relevant examples collected in the last 5 years (2016-2021) through scientific production can be considered fully representative of the state-of-the-art. Starting from the simple phenomenological approach and considering different typological and chemical units and structures, we focused on zinc-based AIEgens offering synthetic novelty, research completeness, and relevant applications. A special section was devoted to Zn(II)-based AIEgens for living cell imaging as the novel technological frontier in biology and medicine.

Pyrene-Based AIEE Active Nanoprobe for Zn2+ and Tyrosine Detection Demonstrated by DFT, Bioimaging, and Organic Thin-Film Transistor

The development of aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) active nanoprobes without any synthetic complication for solution-state and organic thin-film transistor (OTFT)-based sensory applications is still a challenging task. In this study, the novel pyrene-incorporated Schiff base (5-phenyl-4-((pyren-1-ylmethylene)amino)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol; PT2) with an AIEE property was synthesized via a one-pot reaction and was reported for detecting Zn²⁺ and tyrosine in the solution state and OTFT. In the AIEE studies of PT2 (in CH₃CN) at various water fractions (f_w: 0-97.5%), the existence of J-aggregation, crystalline changes, and nanofibers formation was confirmed by ultraviolet absorption/photoluminescence (UV/PL) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic-light scattering (DLS) techniques. Similarly, PT2-based Zn²⁺ detection and sensory reversibility with tyrosine were demonstrated by UV/PL studies with evidence related to crystalline/nanolevel changes in PXRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, and DLS data. Distinct decay profiles associated with the AIEE and sensory responses of PT2 were observed in time-resolved photoluminescence spectra. From the standard deviation and linear fittings of PL titrations, detection limits (LODs) of the Zn²⁺ with PT2 and the tyrosine with PT2-Zn²⁺ were estimated as 0.79 and 45 nM, respectively. High-resolution mass and ¹H NMR results confirmed 2:1 and 1:1 stoichiometry and binding sites of PT2-Zn²⁺-PT2* and tyrosine-Zn²⁺ complexes. Moreover, the values of association constants determined by linear fittings were 4.205 × 10^-7 and 1.73 × 10^-8 M^-2, correspondingly. Optimization via the density functional theory disclosed the binding sites and suppression of twisted intramolecular charge transfer/photoinduced electron transfer (TICT/PET) as well as the involvement of restricted intramolecular rotation in the AIEE and PET "ON-OFF-ON" mechanisms in the Zn²⁺ and tyrosine sensors. Results from the B16-F10 cellular and zebrafish imaging of AIEE, Zn²⁺, and tyrosine sensors further attested the applicability of PT2 in biological samples. Finally, the PT2 and pentacene-incorporated OTFT devices were fabricated. The devices displayed more than 90% change in drain-source current when reacted with Zn²⁺ with an LOD of 5.46 μM but showed no response to tyrosine, thereby confirming the reversibility. Moreover, the OTFT devices also demonstrated Zn²⁺ ion detection in tap water and lake water samples.

Selective anions mediated fluorescence "turn-on", aggregation induced emission (AIE) and lysozyme targeting properties of pyrene-naphthalene sulphonyl conjugate

We have designed and synthesized a novel pyrene-naphthalene sulphonyl conjugate, 1-((1Z)-(4-((Z)-4-(pyrene-1-yl)methyleneamino)phenylsulfonyl)phenylimino)methyl)naphthalene-2-ol (PSN) through a facile two-step reactions. It was characterized by various spectral techniques. Fluorescence spectral studies showed that compound PSN featured fluorescence enhancement upon increasing the water content in THF. This can be attributed to the phenomena of aggregated induced emission (AIE), which is confirmed by SEM and AFM studies, due to the restriction of CHN isomerization of PSN. The anion sensing of PSN was examined with various anions. Among these anions, H₂PO₄^- and F^- ions were selectively sensing with a low detection limit of 3.52 × 10^-7 M and 7.23 × 10^-7 M, respectively, and an obvious color change from yellow to orange was observed by the naked eye. The mechanism of sensing involved the formation of hydrogen bonding interaction between O-H group of PSN and H₂PO₄^-/ F^- ions. The binding of PSN with LYZ was also examined by docking studies, which shows that H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions play crucial roles for the interaction of LYZ toward PSN.

AIE-based fluorescent sensors for low concentration toxic ion detection in water

Ions, including anions and heavy metals, are extremely toxic and easily accumulate in the human body, threatening the health of humans and even causing human death at low concentrations. It is therefore necessary to detect these toxic ions in low concentrations in water. Fluorescent sensing is a good method for detecting these ions, but some conventional dyes often exhibit an aggregation caused quench (ACQ) effect in their solid state, limiting their large-scale application. Fluorescent probes based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties have received significant attention due to their high fluorescence quantum yields in their nano aggragated states, easy fabrication, use of moderate conditions, and selevtive recognization of organic/inorganic compounds in water with obvious changes in fluorescence. We surmarize the recent advances of AIE-based sensors for low concentration toxic ion detection in water. The detection probes can be divided into three categories: chemical reaction types, chemical interaction types and physical interaction types. Chemical reaction types utilize nucleophilic addition and coordination reaction, while chemical interaction types rely on hydrogen bonding and anion-π interactions. The physical interaction types are composed of electrostatic attractions. We finally comment on the challenges and outlook of AIE-active sensors.