TY - JOUR
T1 - Pyrene-Based Fluorescent Probe for “Off-on-Off” Sequential Detection of Cu2+ and CN− with HeLa Cells Imaging
AU - Shellaiah, Muthaiah
AU - Venkatesan, Parthiban
AU - Thirumalaivasan, Natesan
AU - Wu, Shu Pao
AU - Sun, Kien Wen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - The novel pyrene-appended Schiff base probe L with aggregation-induced emissions (AIE) relevant to an increase in water fractions (0–90%) is synthesized and applied in sequentially detecting Cu2+ and CN−. The pyrene-based probe L firstly induces the excimer formation in the presence of Cu2+. However, the process can be reversed by sequentially adding CN−, which is demonstrated using the fluorescence “Off-On-Off” response in semi-aqueous media ethanol water (v/v = 7/3) under physiological pH (5 mM HEPES, pH 7.0). The Job’s plot, mass analysis, 1H NMR titrations, and density functional theory (DFT) interrogations confirm the 2:1 stoichiometry of excimer complex L–Cu2+-L*, preferential binding atoms, and CN− tuned complex reversibility. Based on the photoluminescence (PL) titration, the association constant of L to Cu2+ is determined as 4.95 × 106 M−1. From standard deviation and linear fittings, the detection limits (LODs) of Cu2+ and CN− are estimated as 219 nM and 580 nM, respectively. The practicality of Cu2+ and CN− detection is demonstrated using a TLC plate and a blended polymer membrane through which significant color changes under a UV lamp can be monitored. Moreover, utility of the designed probe L towards biological application with low toxicity is demonstrated by detecting Cu2+ and CN− inside HeLa cells. The responses of the probe to Cu(II) ions were also verified using living HeLa cells imaging.
AB - The novel pyrene-appended Schiff base probe L with aggregation-induced emissions (AIE) relevant to an increase in water fractions (0–90%) is synthesized and applied in sequentially detecting Cu2+ and CN−. The pyrene-based probe L firstly induces the excimer formation in the presence of Cu2+. However, the process can be reversed by sequentially adding CN−, which is demonstrated using the fluorescence “Off-On-Off” response in semi-aqueous media ethanol water (v/v = 7/3) under physiological pH (5 mM HEPES, pH 7.0). The Job’s plot, mass analysis, 1H NMR titrations, and density functional theory (DFT) interrogations confirm the 2:1 stoichiometry of excimer complex L–Cu2+-L*, preferential binding atoms, and CN− tuned complex reversibility. Based on the photoluminescence (PL) titration, the association constant of L to Cu2+ is determined as 4.95 × 106 M−1. From standard deviation and linear fittings, the detection limits (LODs) of Cu2+ and CN− are estimated as 219 nM and 580 nM, respectively. The practicality of Cu2+ and CN− detection is demonstrated using a TLC plate and a blended polymer membrane through which significant color changes under a UV lamp can be monitored. Moreover, utility of the designed probe L towards biological application with low toxicity is demonstrated by detecting Cu2+ and CN− inside HeLa cells. The responses of the probe to Cu(II) ions were also verified using living HeLa cells imaging.
KW - aggregation-induced emissions
KW - biocompatibility
KW - cell imaging
KW - chemosensor
KW - copper ion
KW - cyanide ion
KW - polymer membrane sensor
KW - pyrene derivative sequential detection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148866403&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/chemosensors11020115
DO - 10.3390/chemosensors11020115
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85148866403
SN - 2227-9040
VL - 11
JO - Chemosensors
JF - Chemosensors
IS - 2
M1 - 115
ER -