Development of fluorescent zinc chemosensors based on various fluorophores and their applications in zinc recognition

• All kinds of fluorophores in Zn2+ fluorescent probes were classified.
• Sensing applications results from their complexing and basic properties were discussed.
• This review brings forward the current status in the design and development of Zn2+ fluorescent probes.

With the biological importance of zinc, the development of probes for zinc has been an active research area in recent years. With the aim of designing, synthesising and applying fluorescent sensors for Zn2+, this review provides an insight into Zn2+ sensors based on different fluorophores over past decades and their applications in the detection of zinc. Several types of fluorophores have been reported, including quinoline, rhodamine, coumarin, fluorescein, 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide, Dipyrrometheneboron Difluoride, pyrene, porphyrin and others. It is of greatest importance that selects the suitable fluorophores for the design and synthesis of outstanding selective colorimetric or fluorimetric probes for detection of Zn2+ in living cell. Based on the versatile means of modification in these fluorophores, we can envision that there still present ample opportunities for designing efficient and novel fluorescent probes for the detection of Zn2+ in biological and environmental.

The detection of zinc has long held the attention of the research area because of the biological importance. This review highlights the advances in the development of fluorescent and/or colorimetric probes, and the probes are classified according to fluorophores into seven categories including (1) quinoline, (2) rhodamine, (3) coumarin, (4) fluorescein, (5) 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide, (6) BODIPY, (7) pyrene, (8) porphyrin. We hope that this review will help to design highly selective simple fluorescent and/or colorimetric probes for Zn2+ detection of in living cell.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide