Development of a cell permeable red-shifted CHEF-based chemosensor for Al3 + ion by controlling PET

• A new Al3 + ion selective chemosensor (L) was synthesized and characterised.
• L exhibits higher sensitivity for Al3 + than other metal ions in DMSO–water (1:9).
• Fluorescence enhanced with a red shift (46 nm) through CHEF by controlling PET.
• This bio-friendly L is useful to detect the intercellular Al3 + in AGS cell lines.

A structurally modified quinazoline derivative (L) acts as highly selective chemosensor for Al3 + ions in DMSO–H2O (1:9, v/v) over the other competitive metal ions. L shows a red shifted fluorescence after the addition of Al3 + ions and later the further fluorescence enhancement is due to chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) through inhibition of photoinduced electron transfer (PET). This probe (L) detects Al3 + ions as low as 9 nM in DMSO–H2O (1:9, v/v) at biological pH. The non-cytotoxic probe (L) can efficiently detect the intercellular distribution of Al3 + ions in living cells under a fluorescence microscope to exhibit its sensible applications in the biological systems.

A new cell permeable quinazoline based chemosensor (L) detects Al3 + ions selectively at very low level concentration through chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) after inhibiting photo-induced electron transfer (PET) in DMSO–H2O (1:9, v/v) medium over other competitive ions and this non-cytotoxic probe (L) is also applicable in living cell staining.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide