A novel highly selective chemosensor based on curcumin for detection of Cu2+ and its application for bioimaging

• A novel sensor L based on curcumin had been synthesized easily.
• The L exhibited highly selective for Cu2+ over other metal ions in PBS.
• The limit of detection of L was as low as 2.54 × 10−6 M−1 for Cu2+.
• The sensor is used as practical probe for imaging of Cu2+ in living cells.

A novel optical sensor L (L = 1,7-bis[4′-bromobutaneyloxy-3′-methyloxy-phenyl]-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) based on curcumin, was conveniently synthesized by one-step reaction. The chemosensor was characterized by elemental analysis, different spectroscopic methods and even single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurement. The experimental results showed that L had a higher selectivity and sensitivity to Cu2+ compared with other metal ions measured (including Na+, K+, Ag+, Mg2+, Ba2+ Co2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Hg2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Fe3+ and Al3+) in PBS (10 mM, pH 7.5, 20% CH3CN). Sensor L forms complex with Cu2+ in 2:1 ratio as supported by Job’s plot analysis and X-ray diffraction measurement. The detection limit of L was calculated as low as 2.54 × 10−6 M for Cu2+. Furthermore, the sensor L showed great potential application in fluorescence imaging of Cu2+ in living cells.

A novel colorimetric sensor L based on curcumin had been synthesized. The experimental results displayed that L was highly selective for Cu2+ over other metal ions in PBS. In addition, the sensor L has been successfully detected Cu2+ in living cell imaging.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide