A novel fluorescent BODIPY-based probe for detection of Cu2+ and H2S based on displacement approach

A new BODIPY-based fluorescent probe (BC-DPA) was prepared by a simple method for Cu²⁺ detection in aqueous media and living cells. BC-DPA displayed excellent selectivity toward Cu²⁺via fluorescence "turn-off" mode when a mononuclear Cu(Ⅱ) complex is formed. The corresponding BC-DPA-Cu(Ⅱ) complex, whose structure was characterized by X-ray crystallography, has Cu(Ⅱ) in a distorted octahedral geometry. On the basis of the displacement approach, the fluorescence of BC-DPA-Cu²⁺ was recovered in the presence of S^2-, which allowed the system to act as a sensitive "turn-on" sensor for hydrogen sulfide. Furthermore, BC-DPA exhibited noticeable permeability and low cytotoxicity, making it a useful tool to detect Cu²⁺ in biosystems.

3-[Bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]-5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-BODIPY as Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor for Cu2

We developed an asymmetric fluorescent sensor 1 for Cu²⁺, based on 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY), by introducing 4-carboxyphenyl and bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine groups at the 5- and 3-positions, respectively, of the BODIPY core. We then investigated the photophysical and cation-sensing properties of the sensor. BODIPY 1 showed large absorption and fluorescence spectral shifts on binding to Cu²⁺. The fluorescence peak at 580 nm red-shifted to 620 nm. The binding stoichiometry of BODIPY 1 and Cu²⁺ was 1:3. The ratio of the fluorescence intensity at 620 nm to that at 580 nm (F₆₂₀/F₅₈₀) increased with increasing concentration of Cu²⁺ (3–10 equiv); this enabled ratiometric determination of Cu²⁺. Although BODIPY 1 showed good selectivity for Cu²⁺, there was an interfering effect of Fe³⁺. BODIPY 1 could be used for the naked-eye detection of Cu²⁺ in a water-containing sample.

Determination of Cadmium in Brown Rice Samples by Fluorescence Spectroscopy Using a Fluoroionophore after Purification of Cadmium by Anion Exchange Resin

Simple analytical methods are needed for determining the cadmium (Cd) content of brown rice samples. In the present study, we developed a new analytical procedure consisting of the digestion of rice using HCl, Cd purification using anion exchange resin, and then determining the Cd content using fluorescence spectroscopy. Digestion with 0.1 M HCl for 10 min at room temperature was sufficient to extract Cd from the ground rice samples. The Cd in the extract was successfully purified in preference to other metals using Dowex 1X8 chloride form resin. Low concentrations of Cd in the eluate could be determined using fluorescence spectroscopy with a fluoroionophore. Overall, the actual limit of quantification value for the Cd content in rice was about 0.1 mg-Cd/kg-rice, which was sufficiently low compared with the regulatory value (0.4 mg-Cd/kg-rice) given by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. We analyzed authentic brown rice samples using our new analytical procedure and the results agreed well with those determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Since the fluoroionophore recognized Zn²⁺ and Hg²⁺ as well as Cd²⁺, a sample containing high concentration of Zn²⁺ or Hg²⁺ might cause a false positive result.

Application of fluorescence spectroscopy using a novel fluoroionophore for quantification of zinc in urban runoff

Fluorescence spectroscopy has great potential for on-site and real-time monitoring of pollutants in aquatic environments; however, its application to environmental aquatic samples has been extremely limited. In this study, a novel fluoroionophore based on a BODIPY-terpyridine conjugate was developed and applied to determine Zn concentrations in urban runoff. The fluoroionophore selectively bound to Zn(2+) in water, which led to an instant red-shift of the fluorescence peak of the fluoroionophore from 539 nm to 567 nm that could be seen by the naked eye. Zn concentrations could be quantified using the ratio of fluorescence intensities, and the detection limit was 9 μg/L, which is sufficiently low for environmental aquatic samples. To demonstrate applicability of the method to environmental samples, we measured Zn concentrations in urban runoff samples with a complex matrix (∼60 mg/L dissolved organic carbon and ∼20 mS/cm electrical conductivity). The total and dissolved fractions of Zn in the samples could be determined by fluorescence spectroscopy and its relative error was estimated to be less than 30% by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy analysis. The proposed method is rapid and easy-to-use with simple pretreatment for Zn determination in environmental aquatic samples with complex matrices.