Detection of Hg2+ by a FRET ratiometric fluorescent probe based on a novel pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-rhodamine system

A novel pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-rhodamine ratiometric fluorescent probe TMUHg-3 for Hg2+ based on a fluorescence resonance energy transfer mechanism has been developed. In this system, the energy transfer efficiency is 87.3%. The probe can detect Hg2+ with a very low detection limit of 18.8 nM, and very high selectivity toward Hg2+. Furthermore, it can be used for imaging Hg2+ in living cells. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.