Synthetic fluorescent probes for monovalent copper

Fluorescent probes are powerful and cost-effective tools for the detection of metal ions in biological systems. Compared to non-redox-active metal ions, the design of fluorescent probes for biological copper is challenging. Within the reducing cellular environment, copper is predominantly present in its monovalent oxidation state; therefore, the design of fluorescent probes for biological copper must take into account the rich redox and coordination chemistry of Cu(I). Recent progress in understanding the underlying solution chemistry and photophysical pathways led to the development of new probes that offer high fluorescence contrast and excellent selectivity towards monovalent copper.