A new cascade reaction-based colorimetric and fluorescence turn on dual-function probe for cyanide and hydrazine detection

Selective detection of cyanide (CN-) and hydrazine (N2H4) are highly desirable owing to the highly toxic properties of these species. We report herein a new cascade reaction-based colorimetric and fluorescence turn on dual-function probe (HBTM-HC) for CNand N2H4 detection with long wavelength emission (620 nm) and a large Stokes shift (122 nm). In DMSO/H2O (3/7, v/v, PBS 10 mM, pH = 9.1) solution, HBTM-HC displays highly selective and sensitive detection of CNand N2H4 with the assistance of masking agents (acetone was used to mask N2H4, and Fe-2} was used to mask CN-). The detection limits of HBTM-HC for CNand N2H4 were calculated to be 1.38 x 10(-6) M and 5.47 x 10(-6) M, respectively. The sensing mechanisms for CNand N2H4 were proved to undergo cascade reactions, which results in deprotection of levulinate group and releasing of compound HBTM. In addition, probe HBTM-HC has been successfully applied to fluorescence imaging of N2H4 in live MCF-7 cells, detect CN- in sprouting potatoes and apple seeds, and detect CNand N2H4 in real water samples with high recovery rates (92.0%-104.5%) and small relative standard deviations (<7.15%).

Automated summary

A new dual-function probe, HBTM-HC, based on cascade reactions, has been developed for the selective detection of cyanide and hydrazine with high sensitivity and accuracy. The probe has been successfully applied in fluorescence imaging of hydrazine in live cells and detection of cyanide and hydrazine in real water samples with high recovery rates and small relative standard deviations.