Polymerized Nile Blue derivatives for plasticizer-free fluorescent ion optode microsphere sensors

Lipophilic H⁺-selective fluorophores such as Nile Blue derivatives are widely used in ISE-based pH sensors and bulk optodes, and are commonly dissolved in a plasticized matrix such as PVC. Unfortunately, leaching of the active sensing ingredients and plasticizer from the matrix dictates the lifetime of the sensors and hampers their applications in vivo, especially with miniaturized particle based sensors. We find that classical copolymerization of Nile Blue derivatives containing an acrylic side group gives rise to multiple reaction products with different spectral and H⁺-binding properties, making this approach unsuitable for the development of reliable sensor materials. This limitation was overcome by grafting Nile Blue to a self-plasticized poly(n-butyl acrylate) matrix via an urea or amide linkage between the Nile Blue base structure and the polymer. Optode leaching experiments into methanol confirmed the successful covalent attachment of the two chromoionophores to the polymer matrix. Both polymerized Nile Blue derivatives have satisfactory pH response and appropriate optical properties that are suitable for use in ion-selective electrodes and optodes. Plasticizer-free Na⁺-selective microsphere sensors using the polymerized chromoionophores were fabricated under mild conditions with an in-house sonic microparticle generator for the measurement of sodium activities at physiological pH. The measuring range for sodium was found as 10⁻¹-10⁻⁴ M and 1-10⁻³ M, for Nile Blue derivatives linked via urea and amide functionalities, respectively, at physiological pH. The observed ion-exchange constants of the plasticizer-free microsphere were log K_exch = −5.6 and log K_exch = −6.5 for the same two systems, respectively. Compared with earlier Na⁺-selective bulk optodes, the fabricated optical sensing microbeads reported here have agreeable selectivity patterns, reasonably fast response times, and more appropriate measuring ranges for determination of Na⁺ activity at physiological pH in undiluted blood samples.     

A selective membrane electrode for iodide ion based on a thiopyrilium ion derivative as a new ionophore

A highly selective electrode for iodide ion based on a thiopyrilium derivative as an excellent ionophore is described. At pH 5.5-8.0, the electrode responds to iodide ion in a linear range from 1.0×10⁻¹ to 8.0×10⁻⁷ M with a slope of 60.2 mV per decade, and a detection limit of 2.0×10⁻⁷ M. Selectivity coefficients determined with the match potential method (MPM) indicate that the interference from inorganic and organic anions is very small. The proposed sensor shows a fast response time of approximately 15 s. It was applied as an indicator electrode in titration of iodide with Ag⁺.     

Fluorogenic ratiometric dipodal optode containing imine-amide linkages: Exploiting subtle thorium (IV) ion sensing

The (13E,19E)-N1′,N3′-bis[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzylidene]malonohydrazide (L) has been developed for the detection of Th⁴⁺ ions using dual channel signalling system. The UV–vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopic data revealed the formation of L–Th⁴⁺ complex in 1:1 equilibrium. The density functional theory (DFT) also confirms the optimum binding cavity for the recognition of metal ion. The binding constant computed from different mathematical models for an assembly of L–Th⁴⁺. The detection limit of L for Th⁴⁺ recognition is to a concentration down to 0.1 μM (0.023 μg g⁻¹). The present sensing system is also successfully applied for the detection of Th⁴⁺ ion present in soil near nuclear atomic plants.     

用基于苯并噻二唑衍生物的比率荧光化学传感器检测氟离子

研制了一种用于灵敏、快速地检测溶液中的氟离子的基于苯并噻二唑衍生物的荧光传感器.4,7-二溴-2,1,3-苯并噻二唑与三甲基硅基乙炔通过Sonogashira偶联反应得到二取代的三甲基硅基乙炔苯并噻二唑;将该化合物用于检测氟离子,分析了检测灵敏度和选择性.结果表明,在乙腈和水(V/V=9∶1)混合溶液中,合成的苯并噻二唑衍生物的最大发射波长峰值为455nm(激发波长为376nm);就所测试的F-,Cl-,Br-,I-,ClO4-,AcO-,NO3-,H2PO3-,CN-和HSO4-等阴离子而言,仅F-可以脱除三甲基硅保护基使得该化合物荧光最大发射波长蓝移至435nm,荧光强度降低60%,且最低检测限可达4.5×10-8 mol/L.因此,二取代的三甲基硅基乙炔苯并噻二唑应用于氟离子检测具有很好的灵敏度和选择性.     

Epoxy-based oligomeric probe bearing naphthalene units for selective turn-OFF fluorescent sensing of fluoride anion

A simple epoxy-based oligomer 1 bearing naphthalene unit at the chain-ends is reported to be highly selective ON–OFF type fluorescent probe for fluoride anion. The titled oligomer displayed fluorescence quenching upon addition of F^?, resulting in selective detection of fluoride anion over other anions, such as AcO^?, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, HSO₄^?, NO₃^? and H₂PO₄^? in CH₃CN. Fluorescence experiments suggest the significant influence of the oligomer chain on the sensitivity and selectivity of 1 towards fluoride anion.     

Developing a genetically encoded green fluorescent protein mutant for sensitive light-up fluorescent sensing and cellular imaging of Hg(II)

Hg(II) is well-known for quenching fluorescence in a distance dependent manner. Nevertheless, when we exposed the fluorophore of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) toward Hg(II), through H148C mutation, the GFP fluorescence could be “lighted up” by Hg(II) down to sub-nM level. The detection linear range is 0.5–3.0 nM for protein solutions at 8.0 nM. The GFPH148C protein displayed a promising selectivity toward Hg(II) and also the cellular imaging capacity. Spectra measurements suggested that the ground-state redistribution of protein contributed to the fluorescence enhancement, which was found not limited to Hg(II), and thus presented an opening for building a pool of GFP-based chemosensors toward other heavy metal ions.     

Development of a fluorescent optode membrane for sodium ion based on the calix[4]arene and tetraphenylporphine

A fluorescent optode membrane for sodium ion that works on the basis of a cation-exchange mechanism has been developed. The plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane incorporating sodium-selective ionophore (4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene tetraacetic acid tetraethyl ester), acidic fluorescent pH indicator (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphine, TPP) and a lipophilic anionic site (potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate) was used as the sensing device, which exhibits the theoretically expected fluorescent response to sodium ion. The selectivity, response time, reproducibility and lifetime of the optode membrane were discussed.     

Epoxy-based polymer bearing 1-naphthylamine units: highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for ferric ion

A simple epoxy-based polymer 1 bearing 1-naphthylamine units has been synthesized and its recognition behaviors toward various metal ions have been investigated in THF-water (8:2, v/v) solution. The designed polymer 1 was found to exhibit selective ON-OFF-type fluorosensing behavior toward Fe³⁺ ions over other representative metal ions such as Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Hg²⁺ ions.     

Highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for Na~+ based on pyrene-modified calix[4]arene derivative

A novel calix[4]arene derivative with pyrene fluorophores at the upper rim and tetraester ionophores at the lower rim was synthesized in six steps,and its structure was proved by NMR and ESI-MS spectro-scopies. Furthermore,the chemosensing behavior of the host compound for alkali and alkaline earth metal ions was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The obtained results show that the calix-arene host can selectively bind sodium ion with the complexation stability constant of 2190 mol-1.L. The complexa...     

Spectral characterization of a newly synthesized fluorescent semicarbazone derivative and its usage as a selective fiber optic sensor for copper(II)

In this work photoluminescent properties of highly Cu(2+) selective organic fluoroionophore, semicarbazone derivative; bis(naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl)methanone semicarbazone (BNF) was investigated in different solvents (dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, toluene and ethanol) and in polymer matrices of polyvinylchloride (PVC) and ethyl cellulose (EC) by absorption and emission spectrometry. The BNF derivative displayed enhanced fluorescence emission quantum yield, Q(f)=6.1 x 10(-2) and molar extinction coefficient, epsilon=29,000+/-65 cm(-1)M(-1) in immobilized PVC matrix, compared to 2.6 x 10(-3) and 24,573+/-115 in ethanol solution. The offered sensor exhibited remarkable fluorescence intensity quenching upon exposure to Cu(2+) ions at pH 4.0 in the concentration range of 1.0 x 10(-9) to 3.0 x 10(-4)M [Cu(2+)] while the effects of the responding ions (Ca(2+), Hg(+), Pb(2+), Al(3+), Cr(3+), Mn(2+), Mg(2+), Sn(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+) and Ni(2+)) were less pronounced.     

A novel barium polymeric membrane sensor for selective determination of barium and sulphate ions based on the complex ion associate barium(II)-Rose Bengal as neutral ionophore

A simple, long life, rapid response and sensitive barium(II)-PVC membrane sensor that typically follows Nernstian behavior has been developed for the assay of barium(II) ions. The developed sensor has been made by incorporating the complex ion associate of barium(II)-Rose Bengal (Ba-RB) as an ionophore into a plasticized PVC matrix. The sensor is stable and exhibited fast potential response of 20 s and gave a good linear response with a Nernstian slope of 28.5 ± 0.4 mV/decade of activity within the concentration range 5 × 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻¹ M over a wide range of pH 4.5-10.0 for barium(II) ions. The developed sensor showed comparatively good selectivity for barium(II) ions with respect to other alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The plasticizer o-nitrophenyloctyl ether controlled significantly the calibration slope and the lifetime of the fabricated sensor. The proposed sensor was used successfully for the analysis of barium(II) ions in wastewater samples and in lithophone pigment with excellent recovery percentages in the range 98.9-99.8 ± 1.6%. The determination of sulphate in fresh and potable water samples with the developed sensor has been also achieved successfully. The described sensor provides a reliable means with good correlation with the data obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and other spectrophotometric methods for the analysis of trace amounts of barium(II) and/or sulphate ions in different matrices.     

A new fluorescent sensor selective for Pb~(2+) in water capable of two-photon-induced fluorescence measurement

A new fluorescent sensor (1) for Pb2+ containing a 1,4-dicyano-2,5-bis(styryl)benzene fluorophore and 2-(N,N’-bis(carboxylmethyl))amino-1-carboxylmethoxylbenzene as receptor has been synthesized. The sensor selectively responds to Pb2+ in the aqueous environment, and brings about similar and significant changes in one- and two-photon excited emission spectra: λmax red-shift from 460 (519) to 590 nm. The selective response is pH-independent in a large physiological pH range, and two-photon action cross secti...     

High sensitive determination of zinc with novel water-soluble small molecular fluorescent sensor

A high sensitive method of quantitative analysis for the determination of zinc in the nutrition supplements has been developed by using a novel water-soluble fluorescent sensor HQ3: (8-pyridylmethyloxy-2-methyl-quinoline). Under the optimized condition of 67 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, and 5% (v/v) DMSO, the zinc concentration showed good linear relationship with fluorescence intensity in the range of 7.5 × 10⁻⁸ to 2.5 × 10⁻⁵ M with the detection limit of 1.5 × 10⁻⁸ M. HQ3 exhibited high selectivity to zinc comparing with other metal ions except for cadmium. The developed analytical method was successfully used for determining the content of zinc in a real sample of zinc gluconate solution of Sanchine.     

One-pot electrochemical synthesis of functionalized fluorescent carbon dots and their selective sensing for mercury ion

We propose a simple, economical, and one-pot method to synthesize water-soluble functionalized fluorescent carbon dots (C-Dots) through electrochemical carbonization of sodium citrate and urea. The as-prepared C-Dots have good photostability and exhibit a high quantum yield of 11.9%. The sizes of the C-Dots are mainly distributed in the range of 1.0–3.5 nm with an average size of 2.4 nm. It has been further used as a novel label-free sensing probe for selective detection of Hg²⁺ ions with detection limit as low as 3.3 nM. The detection linear range is 0.01–10 μM. The as-prepared C-Dots are also successfully applied for the determination of Hg²⁺ in real water samples.     

一个新的具有双光子诱导荧光测量能力的在水中对铅离子有选择性的荧光探针

报道了一个对Pb^2＋具有很好选择性的探针1,其荧光团部分为：1,4-二氰基-2,5-联（苯乙烯基）苯;配体为：[（2-羧基甲氧基-苯基）-羧基甲基-胺基]-乙酸．在探针1的水溶液中滴加铅离子,它的荧光发射光谱发生变化,在590nm处出现一个新的宽带峰．探针1在生理环境的pH范围内不受pH的影响,并且在740nm,它的双光子吸收截面为最大：51GM．     

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.     

A sodium ion selective optode based on fluorescein octadecyl ether octadecyl ester and application in beverage and urine assay

A fast responsive sodium ion selective fluorescent optode membrane mounted on an optical fiber has been developed. The sensing membrane contained fluorescein octadecyl ether octadecyl ester (FODEE), potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl) borate (KTpClPB) and a calix[4]arene tetraester in a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix. It exhibited a reversible response to Na⁺ in 0.5 mol/l of HCl in the concentration range of 1.0×10⁻⁶ to 0.1 mol/l. The selectivity, response time, reproducibility and lifetime of the optode membrane were discussed. The practical use of this sensor was demonstrated by real sample analysis in complex sample solutions such as beverage and urine samples.     

Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on spiropyran for sensitive and selective detection of fluoride ion

In the past decades, numerous electrochemical sensors based on exogenous electroactive substance have been reported. Due to non-specific interaction between the redox mediator and the target, the instability caused by false signal may not be avoided. To address this issue, in this paper, a new electrochemical sensor based on spiropyran skeleton, namely SPOSi, was designed for specific electrochemical response to fluoride ions (F⁻). The breakage of Si–O induced by F⁻ based on the specific nucleophilic substitution reaction between F⁻ and silica would directly produce a hydroquinone structure for electrochemical signal generation. To improve the sensitivity, SPOSi probe was assembled on the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) through the π–π conjugating interaction. This electrode was successfully applied to monitor F⁻ with a detection limit of 8.3 × 10⁻⁸ M. Compared with the conventional F⁻ ion selected electrode (ISE) which utilized noncovalent interaction, this method displays higher stability and a comparable sensitivity in the urine samples.