A novel turn-on fluorescent probe for Al3+ and Fe3+ in aqueous solution and its imaging in living cells

A quinoline-based fluorescence probe has been prepared and characterized. Probe 1 showed a selective sensing ability for Al3+ and Fe3+ ions through fluorescence enhancement response at 515 nm when it was excited at 360 nm. In the presence of Fe3+ ion, probe 1 exhibited a detection limit of 2.10 x 10(-6) M. As for Al3+, its detection limit of 3.58 x 10(-7) M was significantly lower than the highest limit of Al3+ in drinking water recommended by the WHO (7.41 mu M), representing a rare example in reported fluorescent probe for Al3+ ion. The fluorescence microscopy experiments have demonstrated that probe 1 could be used in live cells for the detection of Al3+ and Fe3+ ions. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.