Fluorescence 'off-on-off' signaling with zinc ensemble: a new array of investigating prevalence of ATP in liver cancer cells

A unique fluorescence chemosensing method has been introduced to explain a new strategy for the simultaneous selective determination of ATP quantitatively. 2-Hydroxy naphthaldehyde-picolylamine conjugate (NPAC) ensembles with Zn2+ (NPAC-Zn2+), which further binds with ATP through an off-on-off mechanism. UV-vis and fluorescence measurements, NMR titrations, and TDDFT calculations have been performed in order to understand the sensing mechanism and the electronic properties of the receptor-donor complex. The chemosensing method has been successfully applied in human cancer cells to detect and quantify ATP therein.

Automated summary

A unique fluorescence chemosensing method has been developed for the simultaneous selective determination of ATP. Through UV-vis and fluorescence measurements, NMR titrations, and TDDFT calculations, the sensing mechanism and electronic properties of the receptor-donor complex were thoroughly studied. This method has been successfully used to detect and quantify ATP in human cancer cells.