An Acylhydrazone-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Sequential Recognition of Al3+ and H2PO4. Materials (Basel) 2021;14:6392. [PMID: 34771920 PMCID: PMC8585233 DOI: 10.3390/ma14216392]

A new aguanidine-based bis Schiff base for highly selective Al3+ recognition, BSA binding studies and theoretical calculations

Herin, the successful synthesis of a bis Schiff base (L) has been achieved using 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and 1,3-diaminoguanidine as raw materials, which was further characterized by infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrum. Moreover, spectroscopic experiments demonstrated that the probe L showed good selectivity and visual detectability for Al3+. Its detection limit (DL) is 2.04 × 10-8 mol·L-1, which represents a significant improvement over the detection limits of published fluorescent probes of Schiff base. Furthermore, the analysis of the Job's plot revealed a 1:1 stoichiometric relationship between Al3+ and L. The refinement mechanism entails the complexation of Al3+ ions with two nitrogen atoms present in the Schiff base imine moiety and two oxygen atoms derived from carboxylate and phenolic groups. Additionally, quantum mechanical calculations involving density functional theory (DFT) and molecular docking analysis demonstrated that the interaction between L and BSA was primarily achieved through hydrogen bonding underlying the binding process. The binding energy of BSA protein with small molecules was found to be -7.758 kcal/mol, indicating a strong binding affinity between BAS and L molecules. The thermodynamic parameters, ΔG, ΔH and ΔS for the binding phenomenon indicated that the main interaction force between L and DNA was hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces with a spontaneous process. In conclusion, this particular Schiff base demonstrates significant potential for the precise detection of Al3+ within an environmental context. The investigations into the interactions between this bis-Schiff base L and BSA (bovine serum albumin) reveals the significant role of hydrophobic cavities in the protein's folded structure.

Rapid sequential detection of Al3+ and glyphosate using an "Off-On-Off" fluorescent probe based on salicylate modified layered double hydroxides

A fluorescent probe based on salicylate modified layered double hydroxide (LDH-SA) is presented, enabling the swift sequential detection of Al3+, fosetyl-Al and glyphosate in aqueous environment. The probe was synthesized using a simple co-precipitation procedure, and its properties and synthesis conditions were thoroughly characterized and optimized. A unique "off-on-off" fluorescent response was observed when the probe sequentially interacted with Al3+ and glyphosate, and the detection method based on this phenomenon was established. The limits of detection for Al3+ and glyphosate were determined as 0.03 μmol/L and 0.03 mg/L, respectively, with rapid detection periods of one minute and four minutes. The LDH-SA/Al3+ complex requires Al3+ to generate a chelation-gathered fluorescence effect, which is the mechanism by which it quenches LDH-SA. This is possible due to the inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer and photoinduced electron transfer processes within LDH-SA after incorporating Al3+. Upon interaction with glyphosate, competitive complexation between glyphosate and Al3+ is initiated, which leads to a recovery of the fluorescence spectrum of LDH-SA and demonstrating the "off-on-off" behavior. An "INHIBIT" logic gate system was devised utilizing the response, indicating potential applications in fluorescence-based devices. Such a rapid, sequential detection capacity is impressive. It attests to the utility of LDH-SA as a probe for Al3+ or glyphosate, and suggests promise for applications in pollutant analysis or environmental monitoring applications.

Colorimetric and Fluorometric N-Acylhydrazone-based Chemosensors for Detection of Single to Multiple Metal Ions: Design Strategies and Analytical Applications

The development of optical sensors for metal ions has gained significant attention due to their broad applications in biology, the environment, and medicine. Colorimetric and fluorometric detection methods are particularly valued for their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, high detection limits, and analytical power. Among various chemical probes, the hydrazone functional group stands out for its extensive study and utility, owing to its ease of synthesis and adaptability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of N-acylhydrazone-based probes, serving as highly effective colorimetric and fluorometric chemosensors for a diverse range of metal ions. Probes are categorized into single-ion, dual-ion, and multi-ion chemosensors, each further classified based on the detected metal(s). Additionally, the review discusses detection modes, detection limits, association constants, and spectroscopic measurements.

Triphenylamine-Functionalized Coordination Cage as a Supramolecular Fluorescence Sensor for Sequential Detection of Aluminum Ions and Nitrofurantoin

Coordination cages with a well-defined nanocavity are a class of promising supramolecular materials for molecular recognition and sensing. However, their applications in sequential sensing of multiple types of pollutants are highly desirable yet extremely limiting and challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a convenient strategy to develop a supramolecular fluorescence sensor for sequentially detecting environmental pollutants of aluminum ions and nitrofurantoin. A coordination cage (Ni-NTB), adopting an octahedral structure with triphenylamine chromophores occupying on the faces, is weakly emissive in solution due to the intramolecular rotations of the phenyl rings. Ni-NTB exhibits sensitive and selective fluorescence "off-on-off" processes during consecutive sensing of Al³⁺ and nitrofurantoin, an antibacterial drug. These sequential detection processes are highly interference-tolerant and visually observable with the naked eye. Mechanism studies reveal that the fluorescence switch is controllable by tuning the degree of intramolecular rotations of the phenyl rings and the pathway of intermolecular charge transfer, which is associated with the host-guest interaction. Moreover, the fabrication of Ni-NTB on test strips enabled a quick naked-eye sequential sensing of Al³⁺ and nitrofurantoin in seconds. Hence, this novel supramolecular fluorescence "off-on-off" sensing platform provides a new approach to developing supramolecular functional materials for monitoring environmental pollution.