A dual-channel probe for selective fluoride determination and application in live cell imaging

A dual-channel fluoride anions probe has been synthesized from 4-hydroxy-1,8-Naphthalimide and t-butyldiphenylsilyl derivative. The probe presents selective coloration for fluoride anion that can be recognized by naked-eye. And it can quantitatively determine fluoride anion in aqueous and organic media. In MeCN/H2O (v/v, 50:50), the detection limit of the probe is found to be 0.35 mg L−1 which satisfied EPA's requirements. While density function theory and time-dependent density function theory calculations were conducted to rationalize the optical response of the probe. Furthermore, the biological application shows that it could be successfully employed as a selective fluoride probe in the fluorescence imaging of living cells.

► The probe showed dual signals to detect F− with excellent selectivity and sensitivity.
► The detection limit for fluoride anions is 0.35 mg L−1 satisfied the EPA requirement.
► The practical application that it is a suitable method for F− detection in bio-system.