Solvent-dependent turn-on probe for dual monitoring of Ag+ and Zn2+ in living biological samples

• A solvent-dependent probe was presented for dual monitoring of Ag+ and Zn2+.
• The probe exhibited special selectivity and sensitivity at physiological range.
• The mechanism was investigated both experimentally and computationally.
• The probe was highly suitable for mapping Ag+ and Zn2+ in biological samples.

A novel, solvent-dependent “off–on” probe with benzoylthiourea moiety as the functional receptor and fluorescein as the fluorophore was designed for monitoring of Ag+ in EtOH–H2O (2:8, v/v) solution and Zn2+ in CH3CN–H2O (2:8, v/v) solution at physiological range with sufficient selectivity and sensitivity. The Ag+ promoted desulfurization of thiosemicarbazide functionality in formation of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole and the coordination of Zn2+ to the O atom and N atom of the spoirolactam moiety and the S atom of the benzoylthiourea moiety were investigated to be the power that promoted the fluorescent enhancement. This probe was tested highly suitable for mapping Ag+ and Zn2+ in living human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and microbial cell–EPS–mineral aggregates, thus, providing a wonderful candidate for tracking Ag+ and Zn2+ in biological organisms and processes.

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