Chromophoric thin film based on cellulose triacetate blends for sensing metal ions

Chromophoric sensors were made based on 8-hydroxyquinoline immobilized onto a thin film of a polymer blend matrix. The thin films were made by the solution casting method using cellulose triacetate and polyethylene glycol (PEG 600) as plasticizer and pore-forming agent. Different contents of PEG 600 additive were investigated. The prepared films were characterized by FTIR and thermal analysis. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of different films were dependent on the content of PEG 600 with clear quenching of the fluorescence of the film that contains PEG 600 compared to that with zero content. This behavior was attributed to the collective effect of hydrogen bonding (intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding) that enhances the process of excited-state proton transfer. This result is favorable to a responsive sensor that shows fluorescence off in the absence of metal ions and fluorescence on upon metal ion chelation. The detection of 5 × 10⁻⁵ M of Al³⁺, Zn²⁺ and thallium (I) in aqueous solution has been observed with the fluorescence method. The result obtained is consistent with the enhancing effect of PEG 600 in the detectability of metal ions. Compared with the detection of Al³⁺ and Zn²⁺, the sensor shows better detection of thallium (I), with clear fluorescence spectra.     

A highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for trivalent aluminum ion based on rhodamine derivative in living cells

A rhodamine spirolactam derivative (1) is developed as a colormetric and fluorescent probe for trivalent aluminum ions (Al³⁺). It exhibits a highly sensitive “turn-on” fluorescent response toward Al³⁺ with a 70-fold fluorescence intensity enhancement under 2 equiv. of Al³⁺ added. The probe can be applied to the quantification of Al³⁺ with a linear range covering from 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ M and a detection limit of 4.0 × 10⁻⁸ M. Most importantly, the fluorescence changes of the probe are remarkably specific for Al³⁺ in the presence of other metal ions, which meet the selective requirements for practical application. Moreover, the experiment results show that the response behavior of 1 towards Al³⁺ is pH independent in neutral condition (pH 6.0–8.0) and the response of the probe is fast (response time less than 3 min). In addition, the proposed probe has been used to detect Al³⁺ in water samples and image Al³⁺ in living cells with satisfying results.     

Carbazole-based Schiff base: A sensitive fluorescent ‘turn-on’ chemosensor for recognition of Al(III) ions in aqueous-alcohol media

Carbazole-based Schiff base chemosensor was synthesized in one-pot synthesis using 2-hydroxy-1-naphtaldehyde for fluorescent sensing of Al³⁺ ions. Characterization of the ligand (L) was revealed through spectroscopic and physicochemical techniques. The fluorescence emission responses of L to various metal ions and anions were investigated. The chelation was studied by UV–vis, ¹H NMR, LC-MS/MS, fluorescence titration and Job’s plot analysis. Bathochromic shift resulted from charge transfer from L to electrophilic Al³⁺ ion was observed in the chelation of L with Al³⁺. The potentiality of L to be a distinguished probe to detect Al³⁺ ions was due to a chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect, concomitant with noticeable fluorescent enhancement. A significant fluorescence enhancement at 533 nm was observed in ethanol–water (1:1, v/v) solution upon addition of Al³⁺ along with a distinct color change from yellow to white. Non-fluorescent ligand exposed highly sensitive turn-on fluorescent sensor behavior for selectively sensing Al³⁺ ions via 1:1 (ligand:metal) stoichiometry. The ligand’s specificity in the existence of other tested metal ions and anions indicated no observation in color change. The ligand-Al³⁺ complex formation was reversible upon addition of chelating agent EDTA. The ligand interacted with Al³⁺ ions with an association constant of K_a = 5 × 10⁴ M^?1. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 2.59 × 10^-7 M. The synthesized Schiff base could efficiently detect Al³⁺ ions as a fluorescent sensor.     

Linear Schiff-base fluorescence probe with aggregation-induced emission characteristics for Al detection and its application in live cell imaging

A simple Schiff-base derivative with salicylaldehyde moieties as fluorescent probe 1 was reported by aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characterization for the detection of metal ions. Spectral analysis revealed that probe 1 was highly selective and sensitive to Al³⁺. The probe 1 was also subject to minimal interference from other common competitive metal ions. The detection limit of Al³⁺ was 0.4 μM, which is considerably lower than the World Health Organization standard (7.41 μM), and the acceptable level of Al³⁺ (1.85 μM) in drinking water. The Job's plot and the results of ¹H-NMR and FT-IR analyses indicated that the binding stoichiometry ratio of probe 1 to Al³⁺ was 1:2. Probe 1 demonstrated a fluorescence-enhanced response upon binding with Al³⁺ based on AIE characterization. This response was due to the restricted molecular rotation and increased rigidity of the molecular assembly. Probe 1 exhibited good biocompatibility, and Al³⁺ was detected in live cells. Therefore, probe 1 is a promising fluorescence probe for Al³⁺ detection in the environment.     

A lithium‐organic framework as a fluorescent sensor for detecting aluminum (III) ion

Due to the low coordination number and the relatively weak coordination ability, it is a great challenge to introduce Li⁺ into the construction of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Here, one Li‐based metal–organic framework (Li‐MOF), [Li₄L(DMF)₂]_n ( HNU‐31 ), is constructed by the assembly of LiNO₃ and 5‐(bis(4‐carboxybenzyl)amino)isophthalic acid (H₄L) ligand, which possesses a 3D framework, and can be serve as a luminescent sensor for detecting Al³⁺ ion with the detection limit of 4 × 10^?6 M.     

Silole‐Infiltrated Photonic Crystal Films as Effective Fluorescence Sensor for Fe3+ and Hg2+

We develop a highly effective silole‐infiltrated photonic crystal (PC) film fluorescence sensor with high sensitivity, good selectivity and excellent reproducibility for Fe³⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions. Hexaphenylsilole (HPS) infiltrated PCs show amplified fluorescence due to the slow photon effect of PC because the emission wavelength of HPS is at the blue band edge of the selected PC’s stopband. The fluorescence can be quenched significantly by Fe³⁺/Hg²⁺ ions owing to electron transfer between HPS and metal ions. The amplified fluorescence enhances the sensitivity of detection, with a detection limit of 5 nM for Fe³⁺/Hg²⁺ ions. The sensor is negligibly responsive to other metal ions and can easily be reproduced by rinsing with pure water due to the special surface wettability of PC. As a result, a highly effective Fe³⁺/Hg²⁺ ions sensor based on HPS‐infiltrated PC film has been achieved, which will be important for effective and practical detection of heavy metal ions.     

An Aurone‐derived Low‐molecular‐weight Fluorescence Probe for the Detection of Hg2+ in Aqueous Solution and Living Cells

A low‐molecular‐weight fluorescent probe 1 (M.W. = 238.24) based on aurone was synthesized, and its application in fluorescent detection of Hg²⁺ in aqueous solution and living cells was reported. It exhibited an “on–off” fluorescent response toward Hg²⁺ in aqueous solution. Both the color and fluorescence changes of the probe were remarkably specific for Hg²⁺ in the presence of other common metal ions, satisfying the selective requirements for biomedical and environmental monitoring application. The probe has been applied in direct measurement of Hg²⁺ content in river water samples and imaging of Hg²⁺ in living cells, which further indicates the potential application values in environmental and biological systems.     

Fluorescence chemical sensor based on water‐soluble poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene)–graphene oxide composite for Cu2+

A chemical sensor for metal ions was fabricated based on a water‐soluble conjugated polymer–graphene oxide (GO) composite. Water‐soluble poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) with sulfonic acid side chain groups was used to prepare a very stable water‐soluble PPE–GO composite with strong π–π interactions in water. The relationship between the optical properties and metal ion sensing capability of the PPE–GO composite in aqueous solution was investigated. Addition of metal ions enhanced the fluorescence intensity of the composite, and, in particular, the composite enabled the fluorescence detection of Cu²⁺ in aqueous solutions with high selectivity and sensitivity. Therefore, this conjugated polymer–GO composite sensor system was found to be an effective turn‐on type chemical sensor for metal ions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel nano‐size lanthanum metal–organic framework based on 5‐amino‐isophthalic acid and phenylenediamine: Photoluminescence study and sensing applications

In this paper, a novel lanthanum metal–organic framework La‐MOF was prepared via hydrothermal and reflux methods. The La‐MOF was achieved through the reaction of a 5‐amino‐isophthalic acid with 1, 2‐phenylenediamine and lanthanum chloride. The prepared La‐MOF structure was confirmed by XRD, mass spectrometry, IR, UV–Vis and elemental analysis, whereas the size, and morphology was examined by FE‐SEM/EDX and HR‐TEM. The results indicated that the La‐MOF prepared via both methods have the same structure and composition. Meanwhile, the MOF yield, reaction time, morphology, physiochemical and sensing properties were highly depended on the used preparation method. The photoluminescence (PL) study was carried out for the La‐MOF, and the results showed that La‐MOF exhibits strong emission at 558 nm after excitation at 369 nm. Moreover, the PL data indicating that the La‐MOF has highly selective sensing properties for iron (III) competing with different metal ions. The Stern‐Völmer graph shows a linear calibration curve which achieved over a concentration range 1.0–500 μM of Fe³⁺ with a correlation coefficient, detection, and quantitation limits 0.998, 1.35 μM and 4.08 μM, respectively. According to the remarkable quenching of the PL intensity of La‐MOF using various concentrations of Fe³⁺, it was successfully used as a sensor for Fe³⁺detecting in different water resources (pure and waste) samples. The quenching mechanism was studied and it has a dynamic type and due to efficient energy transfer between the La‐MOF and Fe³⁺.     

A Novel Al(III)‐Selective Electrochemical Sensor Based on N,N′‐Bis(salicylidene)‐1,2‐phenylenediamine Complexes

A polyvinylchloride membrane sensor based on N,N′‐bis(salecylidene)‐1,2‐phenylenediamine (salophen) as membrane carrier was prepared and investigated as a Al³⁺‐selective electrode. The sensor exhibits a Nernstian response toward Al(III) over a wide concentration range (8.0×10^?7–3.0×10^?2 M), with a detection limit of 6.0×10^?7 M. The potentiometric response of the sensor is independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 3.2–4.5. The electrode possesses advantages of very fast response and high selectivity for Al³⁺ in comparison with alkali, alkaline earth and some heavy metal ions. The sensor was used as an indicator electrode, in the potentiometric titration of aluminum ion and in determination of Al³⁺ contents in drug, water and waste water samples.     

Fluorescence sensor using a molecularly imprinted polymer as a recognition receptor for the detection of aluminium ions in aqueous media

This paper describes the investigation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as a sensing receptor for Al³⁺ ion detection by using an optical approach. Al³⁺ ion was adopted as the template molecule and 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfonic acid ligand as the fluorescence tag. The polymer was synthesised using acrylamide as monomer, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate as co-monomer and ethylene glycol dimethracylate as cross-linker. The free radical polymerisation was performed in methanol and initiated by 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile at 70 °C. The imprinted polymer was fluorometrically characterised using a fibre optic attachment in a self-designed flow-cell. NaF was used to leach the Al³⁺ ion from the MIP. The optimum pH for the rebinding of Al³⁺ ion with the leached polymer was found to be pH 5 and the fluorescence response was found to be stable within the buffer strength range of 0.05–0.10 M. The fluorescence intensity during Al³⁺ ion rebinding was inversely dependent on temperature, and a low interference response (<3%) toward metal ions except for Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions was observed. The polymer rebinding repeatability study conducted over 9 cycles with Al³⁺ ion (0.8×10⁻⁴ M) was found to give an RSD value of 2.82% with a standard deviation of 0.53. The dynamic range of the system was found to be linear up to 1.0×10⁻⁴ M Al³⁺ ion with a limit of detection of 3.62 μM.     

Visual detection of Al ions using conjugated copolymer-ATP supramolecular complex

A colorimetric Al³⁺ sensor based on fluorescence recovery of a conjugated copolymer-ATP complex is proposed. An optimized ratio of two polythiophene (PT) monomers is utilized to synthesize copolymer (CP) that yielded maximized colorimetric response for Al³⁺ in deionized (DI) and tap water. The electrostatic disassembly of CP-ATP upon addition of Al³⁺ led to an evident visual color change. The lowest concentration of Al³⁺ for naked eye observation is around 4 μM, which is below the threshold levels in drinking water according to European Economic Community (EEC) standard. Besides, the proposed assay showed a similar response to Al³⁺ in tap water. The proposed methodology showed selective and sensitive detection for Al³⁺ in analytically relevant concentration ranges without involving sophisticated instrumentation, illustrating the applicability for on-site drinking water monitoring.     

Electrically induced fluorescence Fe sensing behavior of nanostructured Tiron doped polypyrrole

Nanostructured polypyrrole (PPy) film doped with Tiron was electrodeposited from aqueous solution on the surface of transparent electrode and used for sensitive, selective and rapid electrically controlled fluorescence detection of Fe³⁺ in aqueous media. The fluorescence intensity of PPy-Tiron film decreases linearly in the presence of Fe³⁺ by applying negative potential over a concentration range from 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹, with a relatively fast response time of less than 30 s at pH 7.4. The detection is not affected by the coexistence of other competitive metal ions such as Al³⁺, Ce³⁺, Tl³⁺, La³⁺, Bi³⁺, Cr²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺. The proposed electro-fluorescence sensor has a potential application to the determination of Fe³⁺ in environmental and biological systems. The fluorescent thin film sensor was also used as a novel probe for Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ speciation in aqueous solution.     

Fluorescein Hydrazide-Appended Metal–Organic Framework as a Chromogenic and Fluorogenic Chemosensor for Mercury Ions

In this work, we prepared a fluorescein hydrazide-appended Ni(MOF) (Metal–Organic Framework) [Ni₃(BTC)₂(H₂O)₃]·(DMF)₃(H₂O)₃ composite, FH@Ni(MOF). This composite was well-characterized by PXRD (powder X-ray diffraction), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), N₂ adsorption isotherm, TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), and FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy). This composite was then tested with different heavy metals and was found to act as a highly selective and sensitive optical sensor for the Hg²⁺ ion. It was found that the aqueous emulsion of this composite produces a new peak in absorption at 583 nm, with a chromogenic change to a pink color visible to the naked eye upon binding with Hg²⁺ ions. In emission, it enhances fluorescence with a fluorogenic change to green fluorescence upon complexation with the Hg²⁺ ion. The binding constant was found to be 9.4 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, with a detection limit of 0.02 μM or 5 ppb. This sensor was also found to be reversible and could be used for seven consecutive cycles. It was also tested for Hg²⁺ ion detection in practical water samples from ground water, tap water, and drinking water.     

Sensitive phosphoprotein detection in SDS‐PAGE via Anthracene Chrome Red A stain

Protein phosphorylation, one of the most important post‐translational modifications, plays critical roles in many biological processes. Thus, it is necessary to precisely detect, identify and understand the phosphoproteins from protein mixture for the study of cell biology. We introduce a sensitive and specific detection method for phosphoproteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). Anthracene Chrome Red A (ACRA) combined with the trivalent metal ion (Al³⁺) is converted to fluorescent complex and the fluorescence is sharply increased by a change of pH environment. Phosphoproteins and non‐phosphoproteins can be easily distinguished by the fluorescence quenching due to the structural change of ACRA‐Al³⁺‐phosphoprotein complex, unlike non‐phosphoprotein complex. The method using ACRA is a negative staining based on the fluorescence quenching and has a high sensitivity comparable to Pro‐Q Diamond stain. ACRA stain can detect 1–2 ng of α‐casein and β‐casein, 8–16 ng of ovalbumin (OVA) and κ‐casein within 130 min. Moreover, the ACRA stain showed similar linear dynamic ranges and RSD to Pro‐Q stain. The linear dynamic ranges of ACRA and the values of correlation coefficient were for OVA (8–500 ng, correlation coefficient r = 0.999), α‐casein (4–500 ng, r  = 0.992), β‐casein (4–500 ng, r  = 0.996), and κ‐casein (8–500 ng, 0.998), respectively. On the other hand, the values of the relative standard deviations (RSD) ranged from 2.33 to 3.56% for ACRA. The method is sensitive, specific, simple, rapid and compatible with total protein stain such as SYPRO Ruby stain. Therefore, ACRA stain can be an advanced method for phosphoprotein detection in gels.     

Simultaneous determination of Hg(II) and Cu(II) in water samples using fluorescence quenching sensor of N-doped and N,K co-doped graphene quantum dots

The present study was aimed to use of N doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) and N,K co-doped graphene quantum dots (N,K-GQDs) as a fluorescence quenching sensor to determine both mercury and copper in water sample, simultaneously using simple fluorescence protocol. Each of N-GQDs or N,K-GQDs was optimized separately with 1–5% (w/v) HNO₃ or KNO₃, respectively, and their quantum yields were determined and compared. It was found that N-GQDs, obtained from 3% (w/v) HNO₃ doped resulted higher fluorescence intensity at the maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of 370 and 460 nm, respectively, with higher quantum yield (QY = 83.42%) compared with that of undoped GQDs (QY = 16.35%). While N,K-GQDs obtained from 5%(w/v) KNO₃ gave somewhat different fluorescence spectrum, but still had the same maximum excitation and emission wavelengths with rather highest QY (94.07%). However, it is interesting that detection sensitivity expressed as slope of their calibration curve (y = 5.43x − 19.48; r² = 0.9971) of the N-GQDs is rather higher than that (y = 1.29x + 17.66; r² = 0.9977) of the N,K-GQDs for Hg²⁺ fluorescence quenching sensor, and the fluorescence intensity of N-GQDs had better selectively quenching effect only by both Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺. Thus, their quenching effects were selected to develop the fluorescence turn-off sensor for trace level of both metal ions in real water samples. For method validation, the N-GQDs exhibited high sensitivity to detect both Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ with wide linear ranges of 20–100 μM and 100–500 μM, respectively. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.42 μM & 1.41 μM for Hg²⁺ and 13.19 μM & 43.97 μM for Cu²⁺, respectively, with their precision expressed as an intra-day and an inter-day analysis of 6.98% & 11.35% for Hg²⁺ and 11.78% & 9.43% for Cu²⁺, respectively. Also the study of matrix analysis of the water samples (drinking water and tap water), was carried out using N-GQDs and N,K-GQDs resulted good percentage recoveries in comparison with those using undoped GQDs under the same optimum conditions.     

基于间苯二甲酰腙的荧光探针的合成及其接力识别Al3+和焦磷酸根

设计合成了一种基于2-羟基-1-萘甲醛和间苯二甲酰肼的简单高效的荧光探针L,其结构通过~1H NMR、~(13)C NMR和HRMS进行表征。在乙醇-水(1∶1)的体系中,L能够高选择性识别铝离子,表现出明显的荧光增强,并具有较低的检测限(5. 924×10~(-6)mol/L),二者结合比为1∶2。此外,原位生成的配合物L-2Al~(3+)可接力识别焦磷酸根(PPi),具有良好的选择性和灵敏度,检测限可达4. 756×10~(-5)mol/L。该荧光探针具有潜在的应用价值。     

One Step Fabrication of Au Nanoparticles‐Ni‐Al Layered Double Hydroxide Composite Film for the Determination of L‐Cysteine

This paper reports the fabrication of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs)‐Ni‐Al layerd double hydroxide (LDH) composite film by one step electrochemical deposition on the surface of a glass carbon electrode from the mixture solution containing HAuCl₄ and nitrate salts of Ni²⁺ and Al³⁺. Improved conductivity was obtained by Au NPs codeposited on LDH film. The synergic effect of LDHs and Au NPs dramatically improves the performance of L ‐cysteine electro‐oxidation, displaying low oxidation peak potential (0.16 V) and high current response. Thus the electrode was used to sense L ‐cysteine, showing good sensitivity and selectivity.     

1-[(2-Hydroxy-phenylimino)-methyl]-naphthalen-2-ol: application in detection and adsorption of aluminum ions

A novel “on–off” Al³⁺ ions fluorescence-enhanced sensor (E)-1-(((2-hydroxyphenyl) imino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (AH-2) and its hydrogel hybrid (PAMN) were synthesized. AH-2 showed excellent selectivity and ultrasensitive to Al³⁺ ions; the detection limit was 2.36?×?10^–9 M. The most plausible complexation mechanism was studied by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, HR-MS, Job’s plot and theoretical calculation. And, it was interesting that PAMN could adsorb Al³⁺ ions with a removal rate of over 99%, which also could easily be distinguished by the naked eye in UV lamp (365 nm). Before and after adsorption of Al³⁺ ions, the microstructures of PAMN were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and X-ray energy spectrometer. The silica gel detect plates prepared in this work could rapidly and conveniently detect Al³⁺ ions with a concentration greater than 5?×?10^–6 M (0.13 mg/L) in aqueous solution, and the detection concentration (0.13 mg/L) was lower than the national standard concentration of Al³⁺ ions (0.2 mg/L) in city tap water of china.

     

Fluorescence-enhanced optical sensor for detection of Al<Subscript>3+</Subscript> in water based on functionalised nanoporous silica type SBA-15

An organic–inorganic hybrid optical sensor (PQ-SBA-15) was designed and prepared through functionalisation of the SBA-15 surface with 3-piperazinepropyltriethoxysilane followed by covalently attaching 8-hydroxyquinoline. Characterisation techniques, including FT-IR, thermal gravimetric, N2 adsorption-desorption and X-ray powder diffraction analyses, showed that the organic moieties were successfully grafted onto the surface of SBA-15 without the SBA-15 structure collapsing. The evaluation of the sensing ability of PQ-SBA-15 using fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the PQ-SBA-15 was a selective fluorescence enhancement-based optical sensor for Al³⁺ in water in the presence of a wide range of metal cations including Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ with a limit of detection of 8.8 × 10–7 M. In addition, good linearity was observed between the fluorescence intensity and the concentration of Al³⁺.