A TBET based BODIPY-rhodamine dyad for the ratiometric detection of trivalent metal ions and its application in live cell imaging

• A TBET based BODIPY-rhodamine dyad 1 has been developed.
• 1 permits the ratiometric detection of Al3+, Cr3+ and Fe3+ ions even at nano-molar levels.
• Coexistence of other ions do not affect the trivalent metal ion detection ability of 1.
• 1 is stable at physiological pH and non-toxic to W138 cells.
• Moreover, dyad 1 is suitable for the imaging trivalent metal ion contaminated W138 cells.

A novel fluorescent BODIPY-rhodamine dyad probe that operates based on through bond energy transfer (TBET) phenomenon has been synthesized and its application in the detection of biologically relevant metal ions is explored. Among several metal ions, the probe selectively responds to the addition of trivalent metal ions (Al3+, Cr3+ and Fe3+) through its signature absorbance and fluorescence characteristics and permits their ratiometric detection. The trivalent metal ion detection ability of the probe is unaffected with the presence of other commonly coexistent ions. The probe is highly sensitive and it can detect the trivalent metal ions even at ppb level concentrations. The probe is nontoxic under the experimental conditions, cell permeable and useful for the imaging of Al3+, Cr3+ and Fe3+ ions present in W138 (normal lung fibroblast) cells.

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