Two novel fluorescein-based fluorescent probes for hypochlorite and its real applications in tap water and biological imaging

Two novel fluorescein-based OCl− chemosensors were designed, synthesized and characterized. Both fluorescence probes utilize an irreversible OCl−-promoted oxidation reaction to trigger the activation of fluorescence. These probes were shown to be highly selective for OCl−, and showed real time responses as well as a positive linear relationship to OCl− concentrations. The probes were successfully applied for the detection of OCl− in tap water and for fluorescence imaging of OCl− in bacterial Rhodobacter ferrooxidans sp. strain SW2 cell–EPS–mineral aggregates.