A near infrared fluorescent probe for detection and bioimaging of zinc ions and hypochloric acid

It is of great significance to monitor zinc ions (Zn2+) and hypochloric acid (HClO) conveniently in disease diagnosis and environmental protection. Herein, we successfully prepared a near-infrared fluorescent probe based on dicyanoisophorone derivative and methyl hydrazate by Schiff base reaction for effective detection of Zn2+ and HClO. After binding with Zn2+ at a molar ratio of 1:1, the fluorescence intensity (gimel(ex) = 482 nm, gimel(em) = 653 nm) of the probe was significantly enhanced, thus achieving quantitative detection and optical cell imaging of Zn2+. The complexation constant (K) of the probe with Zn2+ was 2.34 x 10(4) M-1. The response time of the probe for Zn2+ was less than 20 s and the detection limit was 15.3 nM. Moreover, this probe also showed a specific response to HClO. After interacting with HClO, the fluorescence intensity of the probe was increased significantly with a red shift of the emission wavelength from 670 nm to 705 nm (gimel(ex) = 550 nm). The response time and the detection limit of probe for HClO were 4 min and 1.39 mM, respectively. The probe was successfully applied for visual bioimaging of Zn2+ and HClO inside living cells. The recoveries of Zn2+ and HClO using the probe in actual water samples were satisfactory. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The fluorescent probe prepared in this study can rapidly and effectively detect zinc ions and hypochloric acid, showing good optical properties for cell imaging and satisfactory recoveries in actual water samples.