A new ensemble approach based chemosensor for the reversible detection of bio-thiols and its application in live cell imaging

Yue Wang, Zhiqiang Zhang, Qingtao Meng*, Cheng He, Run Zhang, Chunying Duan

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    14 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Based on an aldazine-copper chemosensing ensemble (NP-Cu2+), a new fluorescence chemosensor for the detection of biothiols (Cys, Hcy and GSH) was designed and synthesized. In aqueous solution, the ligand NP exhibited high selectivity toward Cu2+ ions by forming a 2:1 complex, accompanied with a dramatic fluorescence quenching and a notable bathochromic-shift of the absorbance band. Due to the high affinity of thiols and copper, the specific interaction of thiols (Cys, Hcy and GSH) with NP-Cu2+ ensemble led to the liberation of the NP. As the result, recovery of fluorescence and UV-vis absorbance was observed. The detection limits of NP-Cu2+ to Cys, Hcy and GSH were estimated to be 1.5 μM, 1.8 μM and 2.2 μM, respectively. The fluorescence "OFF-ON" circle can be repeated to a minimum of 5 times by the alternative addition of thiols and Cu2+, implying that NP-Cu2+ is a recyclable chemosensor for thiols. Results of fluorescence microscopy imaging suggested that NP-Cu2+ has potential to be used as a powerful tool for the detection of intracellular thiols.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)122-128
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Luminescence
    Volume175
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2016

    Keywords

    • Chemosensing ensemble
    • Detection
    • Fluorescence imaging
    • NBD
    • Thiols

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