Oligo (ethylene glycol)-functionalized fluorescent sensor for the determination of Hg2+ in aqueous solution

• Published in: Polyhedron Vol. 243; p. 116544
• Main Authors: Liu, Jiarui, Yuan, Feipeng, Luo, Shan, Wang, Ying, Wu, Xingyao, Xie, Hongding, Tang, Yong, Li, Yulong, Zou, Qiongyu, Xi, Qiang, Wen, Qian, Yi, Sili
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Cell imaging; Determination; Fluorescent probe; Hg2; Water solubility; Water solubility; Hg2; Determination; Cell imaging; Fluorescent probe
• ISSN: 0277-5387
• DOI: 10.1016/j.poly.2023.116544

1. NP-DT-OEG could be simply prepared. 2. NP-DT-OEG exhibits excellent water solubility. 3. NP-DT-OEG exhibits low cytotoxicity, and excellent cell membrane permeability, monitoring Hg2+ in living cells. [Display omitted] For mercury (II) ion (Hg2+) fluorescent sensors, excellent water solubility is a critical property to ensure Hg2+ detection sensitivity in biological and ecological environments. Although many organic fluorescent Hg2+ sensors have been reported, only a few applied in purely aqueous media. Herein, we synthesized a simple oligo (ethylene glycol)-functionalized organic fluorescent sensor (NP-DT-OEG) for the determination of Hg2+ in aqueous media based on a specific Hg2+-triggered dithioacetal deprotection reaction mechanism. NP-DT-OEG exhibits excellent water solubility and fast response of Hg2+ with remarkable selectivity in a purely aqueous media, the fluorescence intensity increased linearly with Hg2+ concentration within the range from 0 to 20 μM and the detection limit was determined to be 6.2 nM. In practical application, NP-DT-OEG was able to determine Hg2+ in crayfish meat and serum samples. Moreover, bioimaging studies indicated that NP-DT-OEG exhibited low cytotoxicity as well as excellent cell membrane permeability, and has been successfully used for monitoring Hg2+ in living cells.