Colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent chemosensor with large stokes shift for sensitively probing cyanide anion in real samples and living systems

Xylan derived fluorescence carbon dots composite with cotton cellulose paper as 'turn-off' fluorescence platform for sensitive and selective detection Cu2+ in real samples

The pollution of heavy metals such as Cu2+ is still serious and the discharge of sewage of Cu2+ will cause damage to soil environment and human health. Herein, a biomass-based solid-state fluorescence detection platform (CPU-CDs) was developed as fluorescent sensor for detection Cu2+ via fluorescence and colorimetric dual-model methods in real time. CPU-CDs was composed of xylan-derived CDs (U-CDs) and cotton cellulose paper, which exhibiting good reusability, non-toxicity, excellent fluorescence characteristics and high biocompatibility. Further, CPU-CDs displayed high effectiveness and sensitivity for Cu2+ with the detection limit as low as 0.14 μM, which was well below U.S. EPA safety levels (20 μM). Practical application indicated that CPU-CDs could achieve precision response of Cu2+ change in real environment water samples with good recovery range of 90 %-119 %. This strategy demonstrated a promising biomass solid-state fluorescence sensor for Cu2+ detection for water treatment research, which is of great significance in dealing with water pollution caused by heavy metal ions.

Combination of headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) with a nickel-embedded paper-based analytical device for cyanide quantification

BACKGROUND

Cyanide anion can be found in foodstuffs, tobacco smoke and a variety of types of waters, mainly originating from anthropogenic activities. Due to its highly toxic nature, several agencies have established limits for cyanide levels in water. Additionally, monitoring cyanide levels in biological samples, such as blood and urine, is crucial for obtaining clinical information about the health condition of patients. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of simple, cost-effective, and reliable analytical methods capable of quantifying cyanide at low concentrations.

RESULTS

This study presents a novel analytical method for the selective and sensitive determination of cyanide based on analyte volatilization, pre-concentration via single-drop microextraction (SDME) using a selective reagent, and colorimetric quantification using a paper-based analytical device. For this, 10 mL of a liquid sample was acidified with phosphoric acid and the generated HCN was collected using a single drop of 3 μL of a palladium dimethylglyoximate solution (Pd (DMG)22-) positioned in the flask headspace using a syringe. The reaction of Pd (DMG)22- leads to the formation of Pd(CN)42- and the demasking of the organic ligand. After 15 min of extraction time, the reagent drop was added to a paper-based analytical device that has been previously impregnated with 3 μL of nickel chloride, resulting in the formation of a red precipitate of nickel (II) dimethylglyoximate. Digital images of the paper-based device were captured and the red channel (R) was used for quantification purposes. Under optimized conditions, the method demonstrates a suitable linear relation (r2 > 0.99) ranging from 26 to 286 μg L-1 and a limit of detection of 5 μg L-1.

SIGNIFICANCE

As a proof of concept, cyanide levels were quantified in water and urine samples using this method. The proposed approach offers high sensitivity and selectivity while requiring only a small volume of reagents. Furthermore, it exhibits a high degree of portability for in-situ applications.

Ratiometric orange fluorescent and colorimetric highly sensitive imidazolium-bearing naphthoquinolinedione-based probes for CN- sensing in aqueous solutions and bio-samples

The widespread use of cyanide (CN^-) in industry results in contamination of various effluents such as drain, lake, and tap water, an imminent danger to the environment and human health. We prepared naphthoquinolinedione (cyclized; 1-5) and anthracenedione (un-cyclized) probes (6-7) for selective detection of CN^-. The addition of CN^- to the probe solutions (1-5) resulted in a color change from pale green to orange under 365 nm illumination. The nucleophilic addition of CN^- to C2 of the imidazolium ring of the probes is responsible for selective CN^- detection. Among all probes, 1 gave the lowest fluorescence-based LOD of 0.13 pM. In contrast, the un-cyclized probes (6 and 7) were substantially inferior to the cyclized counterparts (1 and 2, respectively) for detecting a trace amount of CN^-. The notably low LOD displayed by probe 1 was maintained in the detection of CN^- in real food samples, human fluids, and human brain cells. This is the first report studying imidazolium-bearing naphthoquinolinedione-based probes for CN^- sensing in 100% water.

Fluorescent boron difluoride curcuminoides as perspective materials for bio-visualization

Curcuminoids of boron difluoride, 1-aryl(hetaryl)-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dien-1-onates of boron difluoride, have been synthesized. A comparative study of the electronic structure, luminescent properties and their potential for applications in bio-imaging has been carried out. The influence of the electronic structure of α-substituents on the luminescence of compounds was studied by the methods of stationary and time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy and DFT modeling. The introduction of π-donor substituents leads to a noticeable bathochromic shift and an increase in the Stokes shift in the luminescence spectra. On going from σ-donor substituents in the phenyl ring to π-donor substituents, the luminescence quantum yield increases from 0.03 to 0.22. The maximum Stokes shift and high quantum yield of luminescence is exhibited by the complex with a stilbene substituent, which has the longest π-system and the maximum efficiency of charge transfer. Dyes are able to penetrate into the cells of the model cell line and accumulate, moreover, accumulation occurs mainly in the cytoplasm of cells. The compounds penetrate into the cells by 12 h of incubation without damaging it's structure and without causing rapid cell death. The submicromolar range of non-toxic concentrations during long-term incubation for a model cell line was determined, which is a characteristic of fluorescent imaging. Due to uniform distribution in the cytoplasm of cells dye with naphtyl substituent is promising for visualization of the cell cytoplasm. This leader compound has the lowest cytotoxicity for cells from the synthesized series of dyes, which makes it promising for further studies as a fluorescent imaging agent. The leader compound has the lowest cytotoxicity for cells from the synthesized series of dyes, which makes it promising for further studies as a fluorescent imaging agent.

A novel coumarin derivative-modified cellulose fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive detection of CN- in food samples

In this work, a novel coumarin derivative-modified cellulose acetate (DCB-CA) was synthesized as a fluorescent probe for highly selective and sensitive determination of CN^- in food samples. The DCB-CA was synthesized by using CA as a skeleton, and the coumarin derivative as the fluorophore. The DCB-CA obtained was characterized by different methods including FTIR, SEM, ¹H-NMR, TGA and UV-vis spectroscopy. The DCB-CA exhibited a significant "turn-off" fluorescence response to CN^-, accompanied by a distinct fluorescence color change from bright yellow to colorless. The detection limit of CN^- using DCB-CA was calculated to be 5.8 × 10^-7 M, which was much lower than the threshold limit of CN^- recommended by the World Health Organization (1.9 × 10^-6 M). Because of the favorable solubility and processability of the CA, the DCB-CA was easily processed into different fluorescent materials including fluorescent films and coatings. The fluorescent film obtained was also applied to the selective detection of CN^-. Furthermore, the DCB-CA was successfully applied to determine CN^- in food samples.

Fluorogenic properties of 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) enable high resolution imaging of cell-wall-bound proanthocyanidins in plant root tissues

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are polymeric phenolic compounds found in plants and used in many industrial applications. Despite strong evidence of herbivore and pathogen resistance-related properties of PAs, their in planta function is not fully understood. Determining the location and dynamics of PAs in plant tissues and cellular compartments is crucial to understand their mode of action. Such an approach requires microscopic localization with fluorescent dyes that specifically bind to PAs. Such dyes have hitherto been lacking. Here, we show that 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) can be used as a PA-specific fluorescent dye that allows localization of PAs at high resolution in cell walls and inside cells using confocal microscopy, revealing features of previously unreported wall-bound PAs. We demonstrate several novel usages of DMACA as a fluorophore by taking advantage of its double staining compatibility with other fluorescent dyes. We illustrate the use of the dye alone and its co-localization with cell wall polymers in different Populus root tissues. The easy-to-use fluorescent staining method, together with its high photostability and compatibility with other fluorogenic dyes, makes DMACA a valuable tool for uncovering the biological function of PAs at a cellular level in plant tissues. DMACA can also be used in other plant tissues than roots, however care needs to be taken when tissues contain compounds that autofluoresce in the red spectral region which can be confounded with the PA-specific DMACA signal.

Photophysical and anion sensing properties of a triphenylamine-dioxaborinine trimeric compound

Herein, we report the synthesis and photophysical characterization of the novel tris(4-(2,2-difluoro-6-methyl-2H-1λ³,3,2λ⁴-dioxaborinin-4-yl)phenyl)amine trimeric probe (A2) via the reaction between triphenylamine (1), acetic anhydride, and BF₃·OEt₂ implying the twelve new bond formation in a one-pot manner. This highly fluorescent compound in solution (φ up to 0.91 at 572 nm) and solid state (φ = 0.24 at 571 nm) showed a better solvatofluorochromism than its analog monomeric A1 due to symmetry-broken charge transfer, which is consistent with high solvent dipolarity (SdP) response in Catalán's multiparametric regression. Notably, A2 had a high sensibility and selectivity for CN^- or F^- in solution (LODCN^-/F^- = 0.18/0.70 μM), and CN^- can be discriminated from F^- by the reaction of A2 with 3.0 equiv. of CN^-. In addition, A2 was impregnated on filter paper to prepare test strips that were applied to naked-eye qualitative sensing of CN^- or F^-. Finally, the octupolar system in A2 allows for better action of two-photon excitation cross-section values when compared with that of the dipolar structure in A1. These findings provide further information for the design of new efficient two-photon absorption dyes.