| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1234113 | Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy | 2013 | 6 Pages |
A novel FRET fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ imaging in living cells is rationally designed based on a coumarin–rhodamine platform. RBC1 exhibit high selectivity and excellent sensitivity in both absorbance and fluorescence detection of Hg2+ in aqueous solution. After addition of increasing concentrations of Hg2+, it result in the decrease of coumarin emission at 467 nm and a new emission profile of rhodamine at 590 nm gradually increased. The response time to Hg2+ is less than 2 min, and other metal ions including Fe2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cr3+ had no interference. In addition, fluorescent imaging of Hg2+ in A375 cells is also successfully demonstrated. The design strategy of two fluorophores switching in this work would help to extend the development of FRET fluorescent sensors.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A novel sensor RBC1 is developed based on the coumarin–rhodamine platform. ► The sensor produce a large emission wavelength shift (123 nm). ► RBC1 achieve a lower detection limit (∼0.42 ppb). ► The sensor exhibit both colorimetric and fluorescent response to Hg2+. ► It can be used for ratiometric detecting changes in intracellular Hg2+ levels.
