Macrocycle aza-crown chromogenic reagent to Al3+ and fluorescence sensor for Zn2+ and Al3+ along with live cell application and logic operation

•A tetradentate N2O2 aza crown.•Turn-on fluorescence sensor to Al3+ and Zn2+.•Low limit of detection.•Intracellular Al3+ and Zn2+ estimation.

1-Hydroxy-diaza-15-Crown-4 (HL) is a macrocycle and is a chromogenic sensor (red; λabs, 505 nm) to Al3+ in DMSO-water medium. The probe is an effective turn-on fluorescent reagent at two different emission wavelengths (λem) for Al3+ at 580 nm and Zn2+ at 505 nm. The limit of detections (LOD) are 1.2 μM (Al3+) and 21 nM (Zn2+). HL is stable in the pH range, 2-12 and maximum turn-on response to Zn2+ and Al3+ is observed at pH, 9. The composition of the complexes has been supported by Job's plot, Mass spectral measurement and 1H NMR titration. Fluorescence selectivity of HL has been used in the analysis of intracellular Al3+ and Zn2+ in SCC084 (Human Oral carcinoma) cell lines by cell imaging processes. The MTT assay reports that the probe, HL is non-toxic upto 150 μg/ml. HL uses a combination of OR and NOT gates for input, Zn2+ or Al3+ as signals and for two inputs (Zn2+ and Al3+).

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (179KB)Download full-size image