A Review of Microfluidic Detection Strategies for Heavy Metals in Water

Heavy metal pollution of water has become a global issue and is especially problematic in some developing countries. Heavy metals are toxic to living organisms, even at very low concentrations. Therefore, effective and reliable heavy metal detection in environmental water is very important. Current laboratory-based methods used for analysis of heavy metals in water require sophisticated instrumentation and highly trained technicians, making them unsuitable for routine heavy metal monitoring in the environment. Consequently, there is a growing demand for autonomous detection systems that could perform in situ or point-of-use measurements. Microfluidic detection systems, which are defined by their small size, have many characteristics that make them suitable for environmental analysis. Some of these advantages include portability, high sample throughput, reduced reagent consumption and waste generation, and reduced production cost. This review focusses on developments in the application of microfluidic detection systems to heavy metal detection in water. Microfluidic detection strategies based on optical techniques, electrochemical techniques, and quartz crystal microbalance are discussed.

Effect of Substitution at Amine Functionality of 2,6-Diaminopyridine-Coupled Rhodamine on Metal-Ion Interaction and Self-Assembly

2,6-Diaminopyridine-coupled rhodamines 1 and 2 have been synthesized, and the effect of substitution on amine functionality toward metal-ion interactions and self-assembly is thoroughly investigated. Both the compounds effectively recognize different metal ions of biological significance fluorimetrically and colorimetrically with a high degree of selectivity and sensitivities. While compound 1 is sensitive to Fe³⁺ ions, compound 2 is responsive to both Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ ions in aqueous CH₃CN (4/1, v/v; 10 mM tris HCl buffer, pH 6.8). The sensing mechanism involves the metal-ion chelation-induced spirolactam ring opening of the rhodamine scaffold that results in both color and fluorescence changes, while the extent of interactions with the metal ions is truly governed by the chemical structure of the compounds. Both 1 and 2 are proficient in detecting Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ ions in human lung cancer cells (A549). As new findings, unlike 1, compound 2 formed a faint pink gel in the toluene-hexane mixture solvent (1:1, v/v), and the gel state of 2 selectively recognizes Ag⁺ ions by exhibiting a phase change from gel to purple sol. Experimental findings establish the role of the formamide moiety in forming the self-assembly.

Coumarin-Based Small-Molecule Fluorescent Chemosensors

Coumarins are a very large family of compounds containing the unique 2H-chromen-2-one motif, as it is known according to IUPAC nomenclature. Coumarin derivatives are widely found in nature, especially in plants and are constituents of several essential oils. Up to now, thousands of coumarin derivatives have been isolated from nature or produced by chemists. More recently, the coumarin platform has been widely adopted in the design of small-molecule fluorescent chemosensors because of its excellent biocompatibility, strong and stable fluorescence emission, and good structural flexibility. This scaffold has found wide applications in the development of fluorescent chemosensors in the fields of molecular recognition, molecular imaging, bioorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials chemistry, as well as in the biology and medical science communities. This review focuses on the important progress of coumarin-based small-molecule fluorescent chemosensors during the period of 2012-2018. This comprehensive and critical review may facilitate the development of more powerful fluorescent chemosensors for broad and exciting applications in the future.

Exploring the Scope of Photo-Induced Electron Transfer-Chelation-Enhanced Fluorescence-Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Processes for Recognition and Discrimination of Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, and Al3+ in a Ratiometric Manner: Application to Sea Fish Analysis

A rhodamine-based smart probe (RHES) has been developed for trace-level detection and discrimination of multiple cations, viz. Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺ in a ratiometric manner involving photo-induced electron transfer-chelation-enhanced fluorescence-fluorescence resonance energy transfer processes. The method being very fast and highly selective allows their bare eye visualization at a physiological pH. The optimized geometry and spectral properties of RHES and its cation adducts have been analyzed by time-dependent density functional theory calculations. RHES detects as low as 1.5 × 10^-9 M Al³⁺, 1.2 × 10^-9 M Zn²⁺, 6.7 × 10^-9 M Cd²⁺, and 1.7 × 10^-10 M Hg²⁺, whereas the respective association constants are 1.33 × 10⁵ M^-1, 2.11 × 10⁴ M^-1, 1.35 × 10⁵ M^-1, and 4.09 × 10⁵ M^-1. The other common ions do not interfere. The probe is useful for intracellular imaging of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺ in squamous epithelial cells. RHES is useful for the determination of the ions in sea fish and real samples.

New Six-Membered pH-Insensitive Rhodamine Spirocycle in Selective Sensing of Cu2+ through C-C Bond Cleavage and Its Application in Cell Imaging

A new rhodamine-based chemosensor 1 with a six-membered spirocyclic ring has been synthesized, which exhibits excellent pH stability and shows selective "turn-on" fluorescent detection of Cu²⁺ ions over a series of other metal ions including Cu⁺ ions. The expansion of spirocycle improves the stability and selectivity of the chemosensors in sensing of metal ions. Till today only few rhodamine structures R1-R5 with thiourea-, hydrazine amide-, or pyrrole-decorated six-membered spirocyclic rings are known that exhibit metal-ion sensing via C-N bond cleavage of the spiro ring. In this context, rhodamine compound that responds to the metal ion through C-C bond cleavage of the six-membered spiro ring is completely unknown. The present example is a first-time report that demonstrates selective sensing of Cu²⁺ ions through C-C bond cleavage over the conventional existing systems in the literature. The chemosensor 1 is cell permeable and can detect Cu²⁺ in live cells using confocal microscopy in the biologically relevant pH range with high photostability.

A novel Hg2+-selective fluorescent chemprobe based on thiooxorhodamine-B and β-C-glycoside

In this paper, two novel easily available probes based on rhodamine B and β-C-glycoside were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis. Sensor 1 exhibited very high sensitivity and selectivity toward Hg²⁺ over other metal ions, due to the opening of the spiro ring in thiooxorhodamine B caused by Hg²⁺ through desulfurization. The binding analysis using Job's plot suggested 1:1 stoichiometry for the complexes formed for Hg²⁺. The fluorescent probe is pH independent in medium condition and common interferent ions do not show any interference with the Hg²⁺ determination. It is anticipated that 1 could be a good candidate probe and has potential application for Hg²⁺ determination.

A new fluorescence turn-on probe for biothiols based on photoinduced electron transfer and its application in living cells

A new biothiol-selective fluorescent probe 1 based on photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism was designed and synthesized. The UV-Vis absorption and fluorescent emission properties of probe 1 towards various analytes were studied in detail. The probe exhibited a large stokes shift (~200nm) after reacted with biothiols and could selectively detect cysteine (Cys) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/H2O solution (9:1, v/v, 10mM phosphate buffer saline, pH3.5) over glutathione (GSH), homocysteine (Hcy) and other analytes with a detection limit of 0.117μM. In addition, probe 1 responded well to GSH, Hcy and Cys in the same above solution with pH5.5 and got the detection limits of 0.151μM, 0.128μM and 0.037μM, respectively. Probe 1 was of very low cytotoxicity and successfully applied for imaging of thiols in living cells.

A real time colorimetric ‘two in one’ kit for tracking ppb levels of uric acid and Hg2+ in live HeLa S3 cells and Hg2+ induced keto–enol tautomerism

A TBET based ‘turn-on’ fluorescent reagent with high Stokes shifts, exhibits selective and colorimetric detection of biologically important uric acid as well as toxic Hg2+.

A through bond energy transfer based ratiometric probe for fluorescent imaging of Sn2+ ions in living cells

A 4-(naphthalen-1-ylethynyl) aniline appended rhodamine based fluorescent chemosensor ‘NAP-RD’ is synthesized which undergoes through bond energy transfer in the presence of Sn²⁺ ions in mixed aqueous media.

Fluorescent chemosensors manipulated by dual/triple interplaying sensing mechanisms

This review highlights the design strategies and response processes of the fluorescent chemosensors with dual/triple interplaying sensing mechanisms.

A new turn on Pd(2+)-specific fluorescence probe and its use as an imaging reagent for cellular uptake in Hct116 cells

A new coumarin-rhodamine conjugate is used as a specific probe for Pd(2+) ions and this could even delineate Pd(II) from Pd(0) or Pd(IV) in aqueous buffer medium (pH ∼ 7). Laser confocal microscopic studies reveal that efficient cellular internalization of this reagent helps in imaging the cellular uptake of Pd(2+) as low as 0.1 ppm in Hct 116 cells. This reagent could even be used for estimation of Pd(2+) in human urine samples.

Triazole-appended BODIPY–piperazine conjugates and their efficacy toward mercury sensing

A selective chromo- and fluorogenic sensor for Hg²⁺ based on triazole-appended BODIPY–piperazine conjugates has been presented.

Rhodamine-Appended Bipyridine: XOR and OR Logic Operations Integrated in an Example of Controlled Metal Migration

A new bipyridyl derivative 1 bearing rhodamine B as visible fluorophore was designed, synthesized and characterized as a fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for metal ions. Interaction with Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(+), and Hg(2+) ions was followed by UV/Vis and emission spectroscopy. Upon addition of these metal ions, different colorimetric and fluorescent responses were observed. "Off-on-off" (Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Hg(2+)) and "off-on" (Hg(+) and Cd(2+)) systems were obtained. Probe 1 was explored to mimic XOR and OR logic operations for the simultaneous detection of Hg(+)-Cu(2+) and Hg(+)-Zn(2+) pairs, respectively. DFT calculations were also performed to gain insight into the lowest-energy gas-phase conformation of free receptor 1 as well as the atomistic details of the coordination modes of the various metal ions.

A specific probe for Hg2+ to delineate even H+ in pure aqueous buffer/Hct116 colon cancer cells: Hg(ii)–η2-arene π-interaction and a TBET-based fluorescence response

Ligand design that allows a Hg(ii)–η²-arene π-interaction as well as a TBET-based luminescence response to distinguish between the cellular uptake of Hg²⁺ and H⁺ in live Hct116 colon cancer cells.

An overview of the recent developments on Hg2+ recognition

Adverse influences of mercury on living organisms are well known. Despite efforts from various regulatory agencies, the build-up of Hg²⁺ concentration in the environment is of serious concern. This necessitates the search for new and efficient reagents for recognition and detection of Hg²⁺ in environmental samples.

Rhodamine-based fluorescent off–on sensor for Fe3+ – in aqueous solution and in living cells: 8-aminoquinoline receptor and 2 : 1 binding

A rhodamine-based Fe³⁺ sensor of a rigid 8-aminoquinoline receptor shows a 2 : 1 binding according to 1D and 2D-¹HNMR experiments.

Preferences of rhodamine coupled (aminoalkyl)-piperazine probes towards Hg(II) ion and their FRET mediated signaling

The metal ion induced absorption and emission signaling pattern of rhodamine coupled bis-(aminopropyl)-piperazine (1-3) and (aminoethyl)-piperazine (4) based probes evaluated in MeCN as well as in an MeCN-H2O binary mixture medium revealed that these probes exhibit optical signaling perturbations to a varying extent in MeCN, however, their complexation induced signaling could be tuned selectively towards Hg(II) in the presence of an aqueous component in the solvent medium where competitive interactions such as metal-probe interactions and hydration of metal ions play the determining factor to induce aqueous promoted Hg(II) selectivity. Attachment of another fluorophore (anthracene and nitrobenzofurazan moieties in 2 and 3 respectively) at the other end of the rhodamine coupled bis-(aminopropyl)-piperazine receptor enabled these probes to facilitate a complexation induced fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the excited fluorophore to the ring-opened rhodamine along with contributions through operative PET inhibition and rhodamine delactonization processes. The enhancement in absorption transition of these probes at ~557 nm upon selective Hg(II)-complexation and consequent colourless to pink colour change in the solution imply a chromogenic signaling pattern whereas simultaneous fluorescence amplification and/or FRET initiation lead to fluorogenic signaling to facilitate detection at lower concentration. The Hg(II)-selective photo-physical spectral modulation in the presence of other competitive metal ions, and their reversible dual channel signaling pattern under the action of counter anions or chelating agents such as EDTA or ethylenediamine establish the potential of these probes for highly selective, sensitive and reversible 'OFF-ON-OFF' detection of Hg(II). The complexation induced optical signaling pattern of probes with a propyl-linker in their receptor (1-3) in comparison with that of 4 consisting of an ethyl-spacer indicate that signaling probe design with a substituted 'aminoalkyl-lactonized-rhodamine' subunit preferentially exhibit Hg(II) selective and sensitive dual mode signaling in an organic-aqueous mixture medium irrespective of carbon-length of the flexible alkyl spacer.

Self-assembly of modified rhodamine-6G with tri-block copolymer: unusual vesicle formation, pH sensing and dye release properties

A new rhodamine-6G derivative having a C₁₈-alkyl chain self-assembles with an amphiphilic tri-block copolymer and forms stable vesicles in water or in water-ethanol (4 : 1, v/v) medium. The stability of the spirolactam form of the rhodamine-6G derivative in these vesicular structures, along with studies of controlled dye release and pH sensing are discussed. Transmission electron micrographs and DLS analyses confirm the formation of vesicular structures. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show that the self assembled tri-block copolymer-octadecyl rhodamine vesicles form near spherical nanostructures with a size ranging from 80 to 110 nm. Furthermore, the vesicular system is disassembled under acidic conditions, releasing the cargo which are an integral part of the vesicle. Dye-release studies showed that the release rates of the loaded dye in the vesicles could be well-controlled as a function of the media pH. These results offer an opportunity to use these nanovesicles as imaging reagents for probing media pH with their simultaneous use as nanocarriers for intracellular drug delivery.

Through bond energy transfer: a convenient and universal strategy toward efficient ratiometric fluorescent probe for bioimaging applications

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy has been widely applied in designing ratiometric probes for bioimaging applications. Unfortunately, for FRET systems, sufficiently large spectral overlap is necessary between the donor emission and the acceptor absorption, which would limit the resolution of double-channel images. The through-bond energy transfer (TBET) system does not need spectral overlap between donor and acceptor and could afford large wavelength difference between the two emissions with improved imaging resolution and higher energy transfer efficiency than that of the classical FRET system. It seems to be more favorable for designing ratiometric probes for bioimaging applications. In this paper, we have designed and synthesized a coumarin-rhodamine (CR) TBET system and demonstrated that TBET is a convenient strategy to design an efficient ratiometric fluorescent bioimaging probe for metal ions. Such TBET strategy is also universal, since no spectral overlap between the donor and the acceptor is necessary, and many more dye pairs than that of FRET could be chosen for probe design. As a proof-of-concept, Hg(2+) was chosen as a model metal ion. By combining TBET strategy with dual-switch design, the proposed sensing platform shows two well-separated emission peaks with a wavelength difference of 110 nm, high energy transfer efficiency, and a large signal-to-background ratio, which affords a high sensitivity for the probe with a detection limit of 7 nM for Hg(2+). Moreover, by employing an Hg(2+)-promoted desulfurization reaction as recognition unit, the probe also shows a high selectivity to Hg(2+). All these unique features make it particularly favorable for ratiometric Hg(2+) sensing and bioimaging applications. It has been preliminarily used for a ratiometric image of Hg(2+) in living cells and practical detection of Hg(2+) in river water samples with satisfying results.