A highly selective fluorescent probe for cadmium ions in aqueous solution and living cells

An organic salt based on double 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as fluorophores and BAPTA as a receptor has been designed for detection of Cd2+. The fluorescent probe exhibits high selectivity for Cd2+ and a low detection limit of 20 nM in aqueous solution, making it useful for Cd2+ imaging in living MCF-7 cells.