DPA-substituted coumarins as chemosensors for zinc(ii): modulation of the chemosensory characteristics by variation of the position of the chelate on the coumarin

The Ultrasensitive Detection of Aflatoxin M1 Using Gold Nanoparticles Modified Electrode with Fe3+ as a Probe

The increasing incidence of diseases caused by highly carcinogenic aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in food demands a simple, fast, and cost-effective detection technique capable of sensitively monitoring AFM₁. Recent works predominantly focus on the electrochemical aptamer-based biosensor, which still faces challenges and high costs in experimentally identifying an efficient candidate aptamer. However, the direct electrochemical detection of AFM₁ has been scarcely reported thus far. In this study, we observed a significant influence on the electrochemical signals of ferric ions at a gold nanoparticle-modified glassy carbon electrode (AuNPs/GCE) by adding varying amounts of AFM₁. Utilizing ferricyanide as a sensitive indicator of AFM₁, we have introduced a novel approach for detecting AFM₁, achieving an unprecedentedly low detection limit of 1.6 × 10^-21 g/L. Through monitoring the fluorescence quenching of AFM₁ with Fe³⁺ addition, the interaction between them has been identified at a ratio of 1:936. Transient fluorescence analysis reveals that the fluorescence quenching process is predominantly static. It is interesting that the application of iron chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) cannot prevent the interaction between AFM₁ and Fe³⁺. With a particle size distribution analysis, it is suggested that a combination of AFM₁ and Fe³⁺ occurs and forms a polymer-like aggregate. Nonetheless, the mutual reaction mechanism between AFM₁ and Fe³⁺ remains unexplained and urgently necessitates unveiling. Finally, the developed sensor is successfully applied for the AFM₁ test in real samples, fully meeting the detection requirements for milk.

A sensitive zinc probe operating via enhancement of excited-state intramolecular charge transfer

Novel highly sensitive fluorescent probes for zinc cations based on the diketopyrrolopyrrole scaffold were designed and synthesized. Large bathochromic shifts (≈80 nm) of fluorescence are observed when the Zn²⁺-recognition unit (di-(2-picolyl)amine) is bridged with the fluorophore possessing an additional pyridine unit able to participate in the coordination process. This effect originates from the dipolar architecture and the increasing electron-withdrawing properties of the diketopyrrolopyrrole core upon addition of the cation. The new, greenish-yellow emitting probes, which operate via modulation of intramolecular charge transfer, are very sensitive to the presence of Zn²⁺. Introduction of a morpholine unit in the diketopyrrolopyrrole structure induces a selective six-fold increase of the emission intensity upon zinc coordination. Importantly, the presence of other divalent biologically relevant metal cations has negligible effects and typically even at a 100-fold higher concentration of Mg²⁺/Zn²⁺, the effect is comparable. Computational studies rationalize the strong bathochromic shift upon Zn²⁺-complexation. Decorating the probes with the triphenylphosphonium cation and morpholine unit enables selective localization in the mitochondria and the lysosome of cardiac H9C2 cells, respectively.

A Review on Metal Ion Sensors Derived from Chalcone Precursor

Disclosure of new molecular probes as chromogenic and fluorogenic cation sensors is scientifically exigent work. Recently chalcone derivatives gained more attention because of their structural variability. A suitable donor and acceptor groups separated by delocalized π-orbitals display excellent chromogenic and fluorogenic properties because of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). These designed molecular frameworks provide the coordination sites to the incoming metal ions results in small changes in the optical properties. In a typical sensing behavior, coordination leads to a large conjugation plane with the probe resulted in hypo/hyperchromic shifts or red/blue shifts. In this review, we tried to converge the reported chalcone-derived sensors and explored the design, synthesis, metal ion sensing mechanism, and practical application of the probes. We expect that this review gives a basic outline for researchers to explore the field of chalcone-based sensors further.

Bispicolyamine-Based Supramolecular Polymeric Gels Induced by Distinct Different Driving Forces with and Without Zn2

Metal-coordination polymeric gels are interesting areas as organic/inorganic hybrid supramolecular materials. The bispicolylamine (BPA) based gelator (1) showed excellent gelation with typical fibrillar morphology in acetonitrile. Upon complexing 1 with Zn²⁺, complexes ([1 + Zn + ACN]²⁺ and [1 + zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (ZnOTf)]⁺) with four coordination numbers were formed, which determine the gel structure significantly. A gel-sol transition was induced, driven by the ratio of the two metal complexes produced. Through nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, the driving forces in the gel formation (i.e., hydrogen-bonding and π-π stacking) were observed in detail. In the absence and the presence of Zn²⁺, the intermolecular hydrogen-bonds and π-π stacking were the primary driving forces in the gel formation, respectively. In addition, the supramolecular gels exhibited a monolayer lamellar structure irrespective of Zn²⁺. Conclusively, the gels' elasticity and viscosity reduced in the presence of Zn²⁺.

A coumarin-based turn-on chemosensor for selective detection of Zn(II) and application in live cell imaging

A 2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide (CHB) was synthesized by the reaction of salicylaldehyde with diethyl malonate and hydrazine hydrate. The recognition behaviors of CHB to Zn²⁺ were investigated and the results showed that CHB exhibits well selectivity and sensitivity to Zn²⁺ with fast response in PBS (pH = 7.24, 60% DMF), the co-existed cations and anions could not interfere the recognition between CHB and Zn²⁺. Besides, the detection limit of CHB for Zn²⁺ was calculated to be 0.95 μM. Furthermore, DFT, EI-MS data and Job's plot were applied for determining the sensing mechanism of CHB with Zn²⁺ and the results showed that a type of 2:1 complex was formed between CHB and Zn²⁺ with the binding constant was 1.32 × 10⁴ M^-2. At last, probe CHB was successfully applied for the imaging of Zn²⁺ in living cells.

HaloTag-Based Hybrid Targetable and Ratiometric Sensors for Intracellular Zinc

We report a new series of small molecule-protein hybrid zinc sensors that combine genetic targetability with the spectroscopic profile of synthetic fluorophores. We functionalized the zinc sensor ZinPyr-1 (ZP1) with a chloroalkane linker (ZP1-12Cl) that reacts specifically with the engineered protein HaloTag. The resulting construct, ZP1-HaloTag, binds zinc ions with a threefold fluorescence enhancement. Through exploitation of the protein synthesis machinery of live cells, the HaloTag protein component was expressed, and the ZP1-HaloTag hybrid was assembled upon bath application of ZP1-12Cl. After fusion of HaloTag with targeting peptides or proteins, the resulting hybrid sensor could be directed to specific subcellular locales, including the nucleus, mitochondrial outer membrane, and endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, HaloTag was linked with the red fluorescent protein mCherry, permitting formation of a two-fluorophore system that provides not only targetable but also ratiometric sensing of cellular zinc. This system reversibly detects both exogenous and endogenous mobile Zn2+ in response to reactive nitrogen species in live HeLa cells. HaloTag-based hybrid zinc sensors offer new opportunities for visualizing and quantifying biological mobile zinc at discrete subcellular compartments.

An endoplasmic reticulum-targetable fluorescent probe for highly selective detection of hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a critical endogenous signaling molecule, is widely involved in many physiological processes. Endoplasmic reticulum, an important organelle with a sac-like structure, plays crucial roles in maintaining the normal function of cells. Accordingly, monitoring the H2S levels in endoplasmic reticulum is of great importance. Herein, we have developed an endoplasmic reticulum-targetable fluorescent probe, ER-CN, for H2S detection. ER-CN features excellent sensing properties, such as high sensitivity and selectivity. In addition, ER-CN exhibits low cytotoxicity and a fine endoplasmic reticulum targeting property (with a Pearson's colocalization coefficient of 0.95). Significantly, visualization of H2S in the endoplasmic reticulum of living HeLa cells by using ER-CN was successfully realized.

Conformational switching via an intramolecular H-bond modulates the fluorescence lifetime in a novel coumarin–imidazole conjugate

Achieving synthetic control over light-driven molecular dynamics is essential for designing complex molecule-based devices.

Low-Affinity Zinc Sensor Showing Fluorescence Responses with Minimal Artifacts

The study of the zinc biology requires molecular probes with proper zinc affinity. We developed a low-affinity zinc probe (HBO-ACR) based on an azacrown ether (ACR) and an 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO) fluorophore. This probe design imposed positive charge in the vicinity of a zinc coordination center, which enabled fluorescence turn-on responses to high levels of zinc without being affected by the pH and the presence of other transition-metal ions. Steady-state and transient photophysical investigations suggested that such a high tolerance benefits from orchestrated actions of proton-induced nonradiative and zinc-induced radiative control. The zinc bioimaging utility of HBO-ACR has been fully demonstrated with the use of human pancreas epidermoid carcinoma, PANC-1 cells, and rodent hippocampal neurons from cultures and acute brain slices. The results obtained through our studies established the validity of incorporating positively charged ionophores for the creation of low-affinity probes for the visualization of biometals.

A highly water-soluble, sensitive, coumarin-based fluorescent probe for detecting thiols, and its application in bioimaging

In this study, a coumarin-based probe (probe 1) bearing a maleimide group was used to rapidly and selectively detect thiols.

Synthesis, characterization and fluorescence turn-on behavior of new porphyrin analogue: meta-benziporphodimethenes

New fluorescence switch-on meso-substituted free base meta-benziporphodimethenes were synthesized, characterized via acid catalyzed condensation reaction and metallated with Zn(2+). Their photophysical properties were also studied. The fluorescence spectra analysis demonstrates substituent's independent behaviour on emitting λmax. The average Stokes shift of 33nm was observed. Crystal structure of 8 was obtained and gave expected perturbed geometry.

Pyrano[3,2-c]julolidin-2-ones: a novel class of fluorescent probes for ratiometric detection and imaging of Hg2+ in live cancer cells

A novel pyrano[3,2-c]julolidin-2-one based fluorescent molecular rotor PYJO4 has been designed and developed for selective ratiometric detection, quantification and imaging of intracellular Hg²⁺ in live cells.

Rapid and selective detection of cysteine over homocysteine and glutathione by a simple and effective coumarin-based fluorescent probe

A fluorescent probe, with coumarin as the fluorophore, is capable of detecting cysteine over other biothiols, such as homocysteine and glutathione.

Synthesis and Sensing Applications of Fluorescent 3-Cinnamoyl Coumarins

We have synthesized two novel fluorescent 3-(4-diethylaminocinnamoyl) coumarins that exhibit fluorescence quenching upon exposure to a nerve agent simulant, diethylchlorophosphate (DCP), providing a basis for rapid and sensitive DCP chemosensing. Furthermore, these coumarin derivatives display two-photon fluorescence upon illumination with near-infrared laser pulses and their two-photon (TP) absorption cross-section was evaluated. The potential for TP bio-imaging of these compounds was investigated by their cellular uptake in HeLa cells by TP confocal microscopy.

Controlling the Fluorescence Response of PET Sensors via the Metal-Ion π-Contacting Ability of the Fluorophore: Coumarin, a Weaker π Contacter

The π-contact hypothesis, that quenching of the fluorescence of complexes of photoinduced electron transfer sensors with heavy diamagnetic metal ions may be caused by π contacts between the metal ion and the fluorophore of the sensor, is examined with a study of the fluorescent properties of the sensor 4-[[bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)amino]methyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-1-benzopyran-2-one (cdpa) and the structures of its complexes with some metal ions. The coumarin-type fluorophore of cdpa is a weaker π-contact former than the anthracenyl fluorophore of the analogue adpa (Inorg. Chem. 2014, 53, 9014): only Ag(I), the strongest π contact former, quenches the fluorescence of cdpa, apart from paramagnetic Cu(II) and Ni(II), which quench fluorescence by a redox mechanism not requiring π contacts. The structures of [Ag(cdpa)NO3] (1), [Pb(cdpa)(NO3)2] (2), [Zn(cdpa)(NO3)2] (3), [Cd(cdpa)Cl2]2 (4), [Cd(cdpa)2H2O](NO3)2 (5), and [Hg(cdpa)2H2O](NO3)2 (6) are reported. Structure 1 shows that Ag(I) is the only metal ion studied that forms π contacts with the fluorophore of cdpa in the solid state: Ag···C η(2) π contacts of 3.083 and 3.095 Å, in line with quenching of the fluorescence of the Ag(I)(cdpa) complex. In contrast, Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) show chelation-enhanced fluorescence in their cdpa complexes, and the structures of 2-4 show that the fluorophore of cdpa in each case forms no π contacts. By contrast, the adpa complexes of Pb(II) and Cd(II) show π contacts with its more strongly π-contacting fluorophore (Inorg. Chem. 2014, 53, 9014). The structures of 5 and 6 show bis-complexes of cdpa: the coordination geometries of Cd(II) and Hg(II) are discussed in relation to the number of covalently bound donor atoms present. The preferred hapticity of π-contacted metal ions is evaluated from the literature structures, suggesting that d(10) metal ions such as Ag(I) and Hg(II), and tetragonally distorted Cu(II) and Pd(II), prefer η(1) and η(2) π contacts, while more ionically bound metal ions such as K(I), Ba(II), and La(III), as well as d(10)s(2) metal ions such as Tl(I), Pb(II), and Bi(III), prefer η(6) contacts.

Synthesis, characterization, and luminescence modulation of a rare barium-tetracarboxylate framework with I2O1 connectivity

Solvothermal reaction of a tetracarboxylic acid with Ba(NO₃)₂ afforded a barium–organic framework whose single crystal X-ray structure was characterized to have I²O¹ connectivity and 1 D channels 15.1 Å in diameter. This MOF has high thermal stability up to 540 °C, and its luminescence intensity can be modulated by ion exchange.

A novel chemosensor with visible light excitability for sensing Zn2+in physiological medium and in HeLa cells

A highly sensitive, fluorescent, non-cytotoxic turn-on chemosensor with visible light excitability for the detection of intracellular Zn²⁺ions.

Theoretical studies on the structural and spectroscopic properties of an iminocoumarin-based probe and its metal complexation: an implication for a fluorescence probe

To understand the sensing behaviors of molecular fluorescent probes, an N,N-di(picolyl)aminoethyl-iminocoumarin probe (L) and its complexation with metal(II) ions (ML, M = Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd and Hg) were examined by relativistic density functional theory (DFT). Four stable conformational isomers (labeled as g1, g2, a1 and a2) for each of them have been optimized, except for CaL having only three without the g2 isomer. All of these structures have been confirmed by frequency calculations. In the aqueous solution, the a2 isomer of the L probe was calculated to be the most stable, while the g1 isomer turns out to be energetically favorable upon binding with metal ions. At these isomeric geometries, the experimentally obtained absorption was well reproduced by calculations of time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) and a conductor-like polarized continuum model (CPCM). A slight red-shifting from L (508 nm) to ML (516-528 nm) was found. This is due to the metal affinity that stabilizes the LUMOs of ML greater than the HOMOs. Singlet excited-state structures of L and ML (M = Zn, Cd and Hg) were fully optimized using the TD-DFT approach, giving more relaxed geometries than their respective ground-state ones. Their fluorescent emissions in the aqueous solution were calculated to be 543 and 551-560 nm, respectively, agreeing with experimental values of 543 nm for L and 558 nm for ZnL. The present study also presents theoretical support for a sensing mechanism of photo-induced charge transfer of the L probe that was proposed in the previous experiment.

α-Monoacylated and α,α'- and α,β'-diacylated dipyrrins as highly sensitive fluorescence "turn-on" Zn2+ probes

With the purpose of developing readily synthesized CHEF (chelation-enhanced fluorescence) type Zn(2+) probes with relatively simple molecular structures and excellent sensing behavior, p-anisoyl chloride was used for the acylation of 5-(pentafluorophenyl)dipyrromethane. Interestingly, the α,β'-diacylated product PS2 with a unique substitution mode was obtained in high yield in addition to the normal α-substituted mono- and diacylated products PS1 and PS3. Further oxidation of PS1-PS3 afforded dipyrrins S1-S3. Crystal structure and (1)H NMR measurements of S2 demonstrate the existence of a pure tautomer, which is consistent with DFT calculations. S1-S3 show highly Zn(2+) selective "turn-on" fluorescence based on a CHEF mechanism by the formation of 2:1 (probe:metal) Zn(2+) complexes. The emission colors can be easily tuned from green to red by changing the dipyrrin substitution modes. Furthermore, these probes demonstrate fast responses and wide applicable pH ranges. Among them, S2 shows the highest Zn(2+) sensitivity, with a detection limit of 4.4 × 10(-8) M.

Integrated and passive 1,2,3-triazolyl groups in fluorescent indicators for zinc(II) ions: thermodynamic and kinetic evaluations

In addition to being a covalent linker in molecular conjugation chemistry, the function of a 1,2,3-triazolyl moiety resulting from the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction as a ligand for metal ions is receiving considerable attention. In this work, we characterize the thermodynamic and kinetic effects of incorporating a 1,2,3-triazolyl group in a multidentate ligand scaffold on metal coordination in the context of fluorescent zinc(II) indicator development. Ligands L14, BrL14, and FL14 (1,4-isomers) contain the 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazolyl group that is capable of binding with zinc(II) in conjunction with a di(2-picolylamino) (DPA) moiety within a multidentate ligand scaffold. Therefore, the 1,2,3-triazolyl in the 1,4-isomers is "integrated" in chelation. The 1,5-isomers L15, BrL15, and FL15 contain 1,2,3-triazolyls that are excluded from participating in zinc(II) coordination. These 1,2,3-triazolyls are "passive linkers". Zinc(II) complexes of 2:1 (ligand/metal) stoichiometry are identified in solution using (1)H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and, in one case, characterized in the solid state. The 1:1 ligand/zinc(II) affinity ratio of L14 over L15, which is attributed to the affinity enhancement of a 1,2,3-triazolyl group to zinc(II) over that of the solvent acetonitrile, is quantified at 18 (-1.7 kcal/mol at 298 K) using an ITC experiment. Fluorescent ligands FL14 and FL15 are evaluated for their potential in zinc(II) sensing applications under pH neutral aqueous conditions. The 1,4-isomer FL14 binds zinc(II) both stronger and faster than the 1,5-isomer FL15. Visualization of free zinc(II) ion distribution in live HeLa cells is achieved using both FL14 and FL15. The superiority of FL14 in staining endogenous zinc(II) ions in live rat hippocampal slices is evident. In summation, this work is a fundamental study of 1,2,3-triazole coordination chemistry, with a demonstration of its utility in developing fluorescent indicators.