Heavy metal ion sensing strategies using fluorophores for environmental remediation

The main aim of this review is to provide a holistic summary of the latest advances within the research area focusing on the detection of heavy metal ion pollution, particularly the sensing strategies. The review explores various heavy metal ion detection approaches, encompassing spectrometry, electrochemical methods, and optical techniques. Numerous initiatives have been undertaken in recent times in response to the increasing demand for fast, sensitive, and selective sensors. Notably, fluorescent sensors have acquired prominence owing to the numerous advantages such as good specificity, reversibility, and sensitivity. Further, this review also explores the advantages of various nanomaterials employed in sensing heavy metal ions. In this regard, exclusive emphasis is placed on fluorescent nanomaterials based on organic dyes, quantum dots, and fluorescent aptasensors for metal ion removal from aqueous systems, and to identify the fate of heavy metal ions in the natural environment.

Cyclodextrin supramolecular assembly confined luminescent materials

The macrocyclic supramolecular assembly confinement effect not only induces or extends the fluorescence/phosphorescence luminescence behavior of guest molecules but has also been widely applied in the research fields of chemistry, biology, and materials. This review primarily describes recent advances in cyclodextrin (CD) supramolecular assembly confined luminescent materials. Taking advantage of their hydrophobic cavity, CDs and their derivatives effectively encapsulate guest molecules and special functional groups or further assemble and polymerize to restrict the motion of guest chromophores, inducing and enhancing the luminescence behavior and realizing intelligent stimulus-responsive luminescence depending on changes in temperature, light, redox reactions and solvent polarity, which are successfully applied in targeted cell imaging, sensing, information encryption, anti-counterfeiting and flexible electronic light-emitting devices. With the emergence of new chromophores and CD primitives, spatial confinement within CD supramolecular assemblies will further realize the rapid development of supramolecular science and technology in circularly polarized luminescence, fluorescence/phosphorescence cascade energy transfer, light-harvesting energy-transfer systems and long persistent luminescent materials.

Research progress of fluorescent composites based on cyclodextrins: Preparation strategies, fluorescence properties and applications in sensing and bioimaging

Fluorescence analysis has been regarded as one of the commonly used analytical methods because of its advantages of simple operation, fast response, low cost and high sensitivity. So far, various fluorescent probes, with noble metal nanoclusters, quantum dots, organic dyes and metal organic frameworks as representatives, have been widely reported. However, single fluorescent probe often suffers from some deficiencies, such as low quantum yield, poor chemical stability, low water solubility and toxicity. To overcome these disadvantages, the introduction of cyclodextrins into fluorescent probes has become a fascinating approach. This review (with 218 references) systematically covers the research progress of fluorescent composites based on cyclodextrins in recent years. Preparation strategies, fluorescence properties, response mechanisms and applications in sensing (ions, organic pollutants, bio-related molecules, temperature, pH) and bioimaging of fluorescent composites based on cyclodextrins are summarized in detail. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of these composites in relative research fields are discussed.

Naphthalene derived Schiff base as a reversible fluorogenic chemosensor for aluminium ions detection

Schiff base (HNPD) was achieved by reacting 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine in enthanol medium. The spectroscopic analyses were done to establish the formation of Schiff base apparently. Further, synthesized Schiff base conjugate was successfully used as a fluorogenic chemosensor to detect aluminium ions (Al3+) with high fluorescence amplification among the other interfering various metal ions. The limit of detection of 0.0248 × 10-6 M and a binding constant of 6.19 × 103 M-1 were obtained by the receptor HNPD for Al3+ detection. A high influence of intramolecular charge transfer kinetics was established to realize the selective responsiveness towards Al3+ ions. Density functional theory approximation formulated the band energy modulation and localization and delocalization of electron density for the HNPD and Al3+ complexation. The developed sensor ultimately inspected on the real soil and water samples and ascertained the practical ability of Al3+ ions detection of HNPD chemosensor.

Designing and preparing supramolecular encapsulation systems based on fraxetin and cyclodextrins for highly selective detection of nicotine

Herein, a series of water-soluble supramolecular inclusion complexes (ICs) probes were prepared using cyclodextrins (CDs) and fraxetin (FRA) to detect nicotine (NT) with high selectivity in vitro and in vivo. The FRA/CD ICs prepared through the saturated solution method exhibited excellent water solubility, stability, and biocompatibility. A clear host-guest inclusion model was provided by the theoretical calculations. The investigation revealed that NT was able to enter into the cavities of FRA/β-CD IC and FRA/γ-CD IC, and further formed charge transfer complexes with FRA in the CD cavities, resulting in a rapid and highly selective fluorescence-enhanced response with the lowest detection limits of 1.9 × 10-6 M and 9.7 × 10-7 M, and the linear response ranged from 0.02 to 0.3 mM and 0.01-0.05 mM, respectively. The IC probes showed good anti-interference performance to common interferents or different pH environments, with satisfactory reproducibility and repeatability of response to NT. Furthermore, the potentiality of the probes was confirmed through fluorescence imaging experiments using human lung cancer cells and the lung tissue of mice. This study offers a fresh perspective for detecting NT in environmental and biomedical analysis.

A cyclodextrin-based turn-off fluorescent probe for naked-eye detection of copper ions in aqueous solution

A novel fluorescent probe L consisting of β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) and thiosemicarbazide moieties was designed for copper ions detection. Apparent fluorescence quenching of probe L in Tris-HCl（pH = 7.4）solution was observed only in the presence of Cu²⁺, among other interfering ions. The present probe L was 1:1 complexed with Cu²⁺ and the detection limit of probe L was calculated to be 1.37 μM. The results demonstrate that the probe L may provide a convenient method for visual detection of Cu²⁺ in the environmental and biological systems.

A coumarin-containing Schiff base fluorescent probe with AIE effect for the copper(ii) ion

A novel coumarin-derived Cu²⁺-selective Schiff base fluorescent “turn-off” chemosensor CTPE was successfully obtained, which showed an AIE effect. It could identify Cu²⁺ by quenching its fluorescence. The lower limit of detection was 0.36 μM. CTPE can act as a highly selective and sensitive fluorescence probe for detecting Cu²⁺.

A novel coumarin-derived Schiff base fluorescent “turn-off” chemosensor with AIE effect showed selectivity towards Cu²⁺. The recognition mechanism is presented.

Simple Fluorescence Turn-On Chemosensor for Selective Detection of Ba2+ Ion and Its Live Cell Imaging

A phenoxazine-based fluorescence chemosensor 4PB [(4-(tert-butyl)-N-(4-((4-((5-oxo-5H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-6-yl)amino)phenyl)sulfonyl)phenyl)benzamide)] was designed and synthesized by a simple synthetic methods. The 4PB fluorescence chemosensor selectively detects Ba²⁺ in the existence of other alkaline metal ions. In addition, 4PB showed high selectivity and sensitivity for Ba²⁺ detection. The detection limit of 4PB was 0.282 μM and the binding constant was 1.0 × 10⁶ M^-1 in CH₃CN/H₂O (97.5:2.5 v/v, HEPES = 1.25 mM, pH 7.3) medium. This chemosensor functioned through the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism, which was further confirmed by DFT studies. Live cell imaging in MCF-7 cells confirmed the cell permeability of 4PB and its capability for specific detection of Ba²⁺ in living cells.

The Applicability of 2-amino-4,6-diphenyl-pyridine-3-carbonitrile Sensors for Monitoring Different Types of Photopolymerization Processes and Acceleration of Cationic and Free-Radical Photopolymerization Under Near UV Light

The performance of a series of 2-amino-4,6-diphenyl-pyridine-3-carbonitrile derivatives as fluorescent molecular sensors for monitoring photopolymerization processes of different monomers by the Fluorescence Probe Technique (FPT) was studied. It has been shown that the new derivatives are characterized by much higher sensitivity than the commercially available 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin (Coumarin 1) and trans-2-(2',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl-2,3,4, 5,6-pentafluorobenzene (25ST) probes. It has been discovered that the 2-amino-4,6-diphenyl-pyridine-3-carbonitrile derivatives accelerate the cationic photopolymerization process initiated with diphenyliodonium photoinitiators at the wavelength where the photoinitiator alone does not work. They are particularly efficient for the photoinitiation of cationic photopolymerization of an epoxide and vinyl monomers. Consequently, the application of the 2-amino-4,6-diphenyl-pyridine-3-carbonitrile derivatives in a dual role: (a) as fluorescent sensors for monitoring the free-radical, thiol-ene and cationic polymerization progress, and (b) as long-wavelength co-initiators for diphenyliodonium salts initiators, is proposed.

Recent Advances in Macrocyclic Fluorescent Probes for Ion Sensing

Small-molecule fluorescent probes play a myriad of important roles in chemical sensing. Many such systems incorporating a receptor component designed to recognise and bind a specific analyte, and a reporter or transducer component which signals the binding event with a change in fluorescence output have been developed. Fluorescent probes use a variety of mechanisms to transmit the binding event to the reporter unit, including photoinduced electron transfer (PET), charge transfer (CT), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), excimer formation, and aggregation induced emission (AIE) or aggregation caused quenching (ACQ). These systems respond to a wide array of potential analytes including protons, metal cations, anions, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules. This review surveys important new fluorescence-based probes for these and other analytes that have been reported over the past five years, focusing on the most widely exploited macrocyclic recognition components, those based on cyclam, calixarenes, cyclodextrins and crown ethers; other macrocyclic and non-macrocyclic receptors are also discussed.