A Highly Selective Naphthalimide-Based Chemosensor: "Naked-Eye" Colorimetric and Fluorescent Turn-On Recognition of Al3+ and Its Application in Practical Samples, Test Paper and Logic Gate

Method for highly selective, ultrasensitive fluorimetric detection of Cu2+ and Al3+ by Schiff bases containing o-phenylenediamine and o-aminophenol

Schiff base probes (1 and 2) made from o-phenylenediamine and o-aminophenol were appeared as highly selective fluorimetric chemosensor of Cu²⁺ and Al³⁺ ions respectively. Strong fluorescence emission of probe 1 at 415 nm (excitation at 350 nm) was instantly turned off on addition of Cu²⁺. Very weak fluorescence of probe 2 at 506 nm (excitation at 400 nm) was immediately turned on specifically by Al³⁺. Job's plot and ESI-MS results suggested 1:1 molar stoichiometric ratio of metal ion and probe in their respective complexes. Probe 1 and 2 had demonstrated very low detection limit (9.9 and 2.5 nM respectively). Binding of Cu²⁺ with probe 1 was found chemically reversible on addition of EDTA, while complexation between Al³⁺ and probe 2 was not reversible. On the basis of density functional theory (DFT) and spectroscopic results, probable mode of sensing of the metal ions by the probes were proposed. Quenching of the fluorescence of probe 1 by Cu²⁺ was attributed to the extensive transfer of charge from the probe molecule to paramagnetic copper ion. Whereas, in the Al³⁺-complex of probe 2, photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process from the imine nitrogen to salicylaldehyde moiety was restricted and thereby the weak emission intensity of probe 2 was enhanced significantly. Effective pH range of sensing the metal ions by probe 1 and 2 were 4 to 8 and 6 to 10 respectively. Probe 1 was also applied in the design of a logic gate for Cu²⁺ detection. Moreover, probe 1 and 2 was also used in water sample analysis for quantitative estimation of Cu²⁺ and Al³⁺ respectively.

Smartphone-based ratiometric fluorescent definable system for phosphate by merged metal-organic frameworks

Phosphate plays an important role in a wide range of chemical and biological processes, so the development of a new phosphate optical sensor with high sensitivity, specificity and visual recognition function has important practical significance. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescent (RF) probe and a smartphone-integrated colorimetric test paper sensing platform for assay phosphate was fabricated using hybrid fluorescent UiO-66-NH₂ and Eu³⁺@MOF-808 metal-organic frameworks. After continuous addition of phosphate, the blue fluorescence emission of UiO-66-NH₂ and the red emission of Eu³⁺@MOF-808 were regularly enhanced and quenched respectively, and the fluorescence response of the detection platform to phosphate exhibited a clear color change process (red → pink → blue). More importantly, the probe solution and test paper of the integrated smartphone are converted to digital values through RGB channels and successfully used to visualize semi-quantitative recognition of phosphate. In addition, an RF probe and a smartphone integrated fluorescent test paper were developed separately to devise logic gate devices for detecting phosphate. The multifunctional ratio sensing platform integrated by the smartphone furnishes a new strategy and broad prospects for the intelligent online identification of important targets in biological samples and environmental samples.

Performance of 2-Hydroxy-1-Naphthaldehyde-2-Amino Thiazole as a Highly Selective Turn-on Fluorescent Chemosensor for Al(III) Ions Detection and Biological Applications

The thiazole based Schiff base 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde-2-amino thiazole (receptor1) was synthesized through a single step process and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The cation detecting ability of the receptor1 was explored by fluorescent spectroscopic methods. The receptor1 has recognized Al³⁺ ions by a turn-on process over a panel of other potentially competing metal ions. The binding constant of receptor1 with Al³⁺ was found to be 8.27 × 10³ M^-1. Computational studies Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) were performed to provide detailed information on electronic states and photophysical property of receptor1 and receptor1-Al³⁺ ions. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and bioimaging applications were made on breast carcinoma cells in humans.

A novel phenolphthalein-based fluorescent sensor for Al3+ sensing in drinking water and herbal tea samples

In this study, 3,3-bis(4-hydroxy-3-((E)-((4-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl) phenyl)isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (HMBP) was designed as a ''turn-on″ fluorogenic chemosensor to detect Al³⁺. Studies were performed in C₂H₅OH-HEPES (v/v, 9/1, pH 7.0) media at λ_em = 475 nm. The LOD value was found to be 0.113 µM. The stoichiometric ratio of HMBP-Al³⁺ was determined as 1:2 by Job's plot and ESI-MS as well as ¹H NMR titration. The binding constant of chemosensor HMBP with Al³⁺ from the Benesi-Hildebrand equation was determined to be 1.21 × 10⁸ M^-1. The quantum (Φ) yields were obtained as 0.040 and 0.775 for the chemosensor HMBP and HMBP-Al³⁺, respectively. The response of the chemosensor HMBP towards Al³⁺ was attributed to the strategies of blocking the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and CN isomerisation mechanisms. Finally, the sensing of the chemosensor HMBP for the determination of Al³⁺ in real food samples, drinking waters and herbal teas, were employed.

Embedding dual fluoroprobe in metal-organic frameworks for continuous visual recognition of Pb2+ and PO43- via fluorescence 'turn-off-on' response: Agar test paper and fingerprint

A novel dual-emissive ratiometric fluorescence (RF) probe CDs/QDs@ZIF-8 has been successfully constructed by employing a simple and effective strategy for in situ encapsulating carbon dots (CDs) and thioglycolic acid-modified CdTe quantum dots (QDs) into porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) "cage". The dual responsive colorimetric fluorescence probe was developed for the ultra-high selectivity and sensitivity continuous detection of Pb²⁺ (turn OFF) and PO₄^3- (turn ON) in biological samples. Blue CDs acts as a stable internal standard emission, the emission color of CDs/QDs@ZIF-8 changes from red to blue with introducing Pb²⁺, fluorescence of probe is quenched because of the binding of Pb²⁺ ions to thioglycolic acid on the surface of probe and e- transfer from the photoexcited QDs to Pb²⁺ ions, color can be recovered after the adding PO₄^3- to CDs/QDs@ZIF-8-Pb²⁺ system, which could take away Pb²⁺ ions from the surface of CDs/QDs@ZIF-8. More importantly, fabricated agar test papers was also successfully applied in visual detection of Pb²⁺ and PO₄³- in real samples, which can implement without instrument-specific calibration.

Multi-site probe for selective turn-on fluorescent detection of Al(III) in aqueous solution: synthesis, cation binding, mode of coordination, logic gate and cell imaging

An easy to make organic probe (hereafter called as R) possessing multiple ligating sites have been synthesized and characterized using spectral techniques. The probe exhibits selective and sensitive turn-on fluorescence response with Al(III) in aqueous dimethylformamide (DMF) (1:1 v/v) solution. Fluorescence titration experiment shows that the probe binds with Al(III) with a 1:1 stoichiometry and a binding constant of 6.6 × 10⁴ M^-1.The mode of coordination of R with Al(III) has been established suing ²⁷Al and ¹H NMR studies and the results suggest formation of an octahedral complex been them. The suggested point of attachment of R with Al(III) corroborates well with Density Functional Theory (DFT) optimized structure and Mulliken charges computed. Chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) is proposed as the mechanism of enhancement of fluorescence upon addition of Al(III) to R. The probe detects Al(III) in aqueous solution with a detection limit of 0.2 μM, which is much lower than the permissible limit of Al(III) set by the World Health Organization (WHO).The probe works in a wide pH range (4-11) and thus makes it a suitable candidate for environmental and biological applications. The fluorescence signals of R were used to construct an INHIBIT molecular logic gate. The confocal fluorescence microscope experiments show that R could be employed as a fluorescent probe for detecting Al(III) in living cells.

A Naphthalimide-Based Fluorescence "Off-on-Off" Chemosensor for Relay Detection of Al3+ and ClO. Front Chem 2019;7:549. [PMID: 31428604 PMCID: PMC6687763 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00549]

A novel Al³⁺ chemosensor NPA was designed and synthesized on basis of the mechanism of ICT and CHEF. Upon addition of Al³⁺, the probe NPA displayed a bright green fluorescence under UV radiation and visual color change from yellow to colorless. Spectrum titrations showed that NPA could be recognized as a fluorescent turn-on probe with 10^-8 M detection level. The probe was successfully applied in real water sample and test paper. More important, NPA-Al³⁺ complex were used as a fluorescent turn-off probe for the detection of ClO^- with the detection as low as 2.34 × 10^-8 M. The performance of NPA to Al³⁺ and NPA-Al³⁺ complex to ClO^- demonstrated that NPA could be served as a sensitive probe and exhibit INHIBIT logic gate behavior with Al³⁺ and ClO^- as inputs.

A Highly Selective Fluorescence "Turn on" and Absorbance-Ratiometric Detection of Al3+ in Totally H2O and its Application in Test Paper

A novel naphthalene based fluorescence probe NBDH was designed and synthesized. Probe NBDH exhibited highly selective and sensitive responses towards Al³⁺ in HEPES-NaOH buffer solution (pH = 7.4). In addition, the detection of NBDH to Al³⁺ could be achieved through dual channels embodied in significant fluorescent turn-on signal and ratiometric absorbance response. The stoichiometry ratio of NBDH-Al³⁺ was 1:1 by fluorescence job' plot and binging mechanism was further varified by the FT-IR, NMR titration and HRMS. Furthermore, NBDH was achieved in real sample detection, and a series of color test paper were developed for visual detecting Al³⁺ ions.

A naphthalene-quinoline based chemosensor for fluorescent "turn-on" and absorbance-ratiometric detection of Al3+ and its application in cells imaging

A new naphthalene-quinoline based chemosensor L was prepared and structurally characterized. L exhibited excellent selectivity and sensitivity to Al³⁺ through distinct fluorescence enhancement (335-fold) and ratiometric detection in DMF/H₂O (v/v, 1/9) based on the combined mechanisms of ESIPT and CHEF. The recognizing behavior of L toward Al³⁺ had been investigated in detail through Job's Plot, FT-IR, HNMR, and HRMS analysis. The limit of detection (LOD) for Al³⁺ was as low as and 3.67 × 10^-8 M. L was successfully applied in real sample detection and construction of molecular logic gate. Moreover, L was verified to be of low cytotoxicity and good imaging characteristics for the detection of Al³⁺ in cells HSC.