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

Development of a water-soluble fluorescent Al3+ probe based on phenylsulfonyl-2-pyrone in biological systems

BACKGROUND

Al exists naturally in the environment and is an important component in acidic soils, which harm almost all plants. Furthermore, Al is widely used in food additives, cosmetics, and medicines, resulting in living organisms ingesting traces of Al orally or dermally every day. Accordingly, Al accumulates in the body, which can cause negative bioeffects and diseases, and this concern is gaining increasing attention. Therefore, to detect and track Al in the environment and in living organisms, the development of novel Al-selective probes that are water-soluble and exhibit fluorescence at long wavelengths is necessary.

RESULTS

In this study, an Al3+-selective fluorescent probe PSP based on a novel pyrone molecule was synthesized and characterized to detect and track Al in biological systems. PSP exhibited fluorescence enhancement at 580 nm in the presence of Al3+ in aqueous media. Binding analysis using Job's plot and structural analysis using 1H NMR showed that PSP formed a 1:1 complex with Al3+ at the two carbonyl groups of the dimethyl malonate of the pyrone ring. Upon testing in biological systems, PSP showed good cell membrane permeability, detected intracellular Al3+ in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), and successfully imaged accumulated Al3+ in Microcystis aeruginosa and the larvae of Rheocricotopus species.

SIGNIFICANCE

The novel Al3+-selective fluorescent probe PSP is highly effective and is expected to aid in elucidating the role of Al3+ in the environment and living organisms.

A highly selective and sensitive ratiometric fluorescent probe for quantitative detection of Al(III) in different natural matrices

Highly selective and sensitive assay of Al(III) using ratiometric fluorescence enhancement is reported in an aqueous solution. The probe (named as RS5) exhibits a red-shift of 54 nm upon binding with Al(III) ion. The significant enhancement response of RS5 at 481 nm is attributed to the formation of a 1:1 complex between the probe and Al(III), wherein RS5 acts as a tridentate NNN-donor ligand. The complexation process is ascertained by 1H, 13C and 27Al NMR and HR-MS spectral techniques. The binding constant of the complex is determined to be 1.3x105 M-1. The ratiometric change in fluorescence upon complexation with Al(III) is ascribed to increase in intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transition along with chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) processes. The probe can be applied for monitoring Al(III) in a pH range of 6 - 8. The limit of detection (LOD) of RS5 for the examination of Al(III) is found to be 0.3 µM. With an aim to understand the sensing behaviour of RS5, the optical properties of the probe and its Al(III) complex are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods. The probe is successfully employed for the determination of Al(III), with very high recovery percentages, in natural matrices like deep well water, tap water, drinking water, pond water, river water, bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution and blood serum.

Naphthalimide appended isoquinoline fluorescent probe for specific detection of Al3+ ions and its application in living cell imaging

Herein, a novel Schiff base fluorescent probe NIQ based on naphthalimide and iso-quinoline units has been readily prepared for the selective detection of Al³⁺ ions. The obviously visible color changes and prominent fluorescence enhancement were observed upon the addition of Al³⁺ to NIQ, which could be attributed to the complexation of NIQ with Al³⁺ and thus leading to the inhibition of photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and the chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) progress. The limit of detection (LOD) was 52 nM that was far below the standard recommended by the WHO. Binding ratio (1:1) of NIQ with Al³⁺ ions was supported by Job's plot. The binding constant of NIQ for Al³⁺ were calculated to be 3.27 × 10⁵ M^-1 on the basis of benesi-Hildebrand plot. The plausible binding mechanism for NIQ towards Al³⁺ ions was evidenced by the density functional theory (DFT) and ¹H NMR titration experiment. Furthermore, this "turn-on" probe NIQ has been successfully applied as a biomarker for imaging the Al³⁺ ions in living cells.

A Novel Schiff Base-Modified Dialdehyde Cellulose-Based Fluorescent Probe for Al3+ and Its Application in Environmental Analysis

Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer with good biodegradability and biocompatibility. In this paper, a novel fluorescent probe DAC-SD-NA for aluminum (Al³⁺ ) detection is successfully synthesized based on dialdehyde cellulose (DAC). DAC-SD-NA exhibited a remarkable "turn-on" fluorescence response to Al³⁺ in a wide pH range, and the fluorescence color of DAC-SD-NA solution turned from colorless to bright blue at the presence of Al³⁺ . The detection limit for Al³⁺ is computed to be 6.06×10^-7 m. The reaction mechanism of DAC-SD-NA towards Al³⁺ is confirmed by Job's plot, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In view of DAC-SD-NA exhibited good sensitivity and selectivity, it is applied to detect Al³⁺ in real water. What's more, DAC-SD-NA-loaded fluorescent hydrogel can serve as a convenient tool for the detection of Al³⁺ .