A rhodamine-based “turn-on” fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu2+ and its application in living cell imaging

A new fluorescent probe 1, N-(Rhodamine-6G)lactam-hydrazinecarbothioamide, was synthesized as a fluorescent and colorimetric chemodosimeter in aqueous solution for Cu2+. Following Cu2+-promoted ring opening, redox and hydrolysis reactions, comparable amplifications of absorption and fluorescence signals were observed upon addition of Cu2+; this suggests that chemodosimeter 1 effectively avoided the fluorescence quenching caused by the paramagnetic nature of Cu2+. Importantly, 1 can selectively recognize Cu2+ in aqueous media in the presence of other trace metal ions in organisms, abundant cellular cations and the prevalent toxic metal ions in the environment with high sensitivity (detection limit < 3 ppb) and a rapid response time (< 2 min). In addition, the biological imaging study has demonstrated that 1 can detect Cu2+ in the living cells.

The biological imaging study has demonstrated that 1 can detect Cu2+ in the living cells.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide