Low cytotoxicity rhodamine-based fluorescent probes for Fe(III) and their application in living cells

Two novel rhodamine-active probes G2 and R2 were designed and synthesized, which adopted a 1:1 binding stoichiometry and showed highly selective sensing for Fe3+ ions over other metal ions in EtOH–H2O (1:1, v/v, Tris–HCl pH=7.4) in the fluorescence and ultraviolet spectra. Cytotoxicity and bioimaging studies by PC12 and L929 indicated that the probes were low cytotoxic, cell permeable and suitable for detecting Fe3+ in living cells.

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