A highly selective and sensitive fluorescence probe for dopamine determination based on a bisquinoline-substituted calix[4]arene carboxylic acid derivative

Dopamine (DA) at normal levels in the human body exhibits a high potential for maintaining a proper neuron network. However, their abnormalities in humans can bring out aggressive disorders such as Schizophrenia, hypertension, Tourette's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar depression, Parkinson's disease, drug addiction and attention-deficit hyperactivity diseases. Hence, in this study, a bis-quinoline-substituted calix[4] arene carboxylic acid derivative (Quin-Calix-CO2H) at cone conformation was developed as an effective fluorescent sensor for the detection of a catecholamine neurotransmitter (dopamine). The structure of Quin-Calix-CO2H was confirmed using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis techniques. The calixarene-based fluorescent sensor (Quin-Calix-CO2H) has shown fluorescence emission at 404 nm under the excitation of 270 nm. Further, biomolecules binding property of Quin-Calix-CO2H against various biomolecules such as L-cysteine (L-Cys), alpha-D-glucose (D-Glu), (+)-sodium-L-ascorbate (SAA), urea (UR), L-alanine (L-Ala) and dopamine (DA) exhibited that the fluorescent sensor enables selectively and sensitively detection for DA with a remarkable affinity. The probe Quin-Calix-CO2H has shown fluorescence quenching towards DA concentration ranging from 0 to 4.0 mu M with a very low limit of detection (LOD) of 88.5 nmol L-1. In addition, the binding constant and stoichiometry as well as the mechanism of quenching have been also determined from the fluorescence data.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Automated summary

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in the human body, but abnormalities in its levels can be linked to various diseases. This study developed a new fluorescent sensor that can effectively detect dopamine with high sensitivity, demonstrating good selectivity and affinity.