Rapidly prepared and screened supramolecular fluorescent sensors for the detection of metal ions

• Published in: Journal of molecular liquids Vol. 407; p. 125163
• Main Authors: Wang, Shuyi, Zhao, Zizhen, Ma, Da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Chemical sensing; Fluorescent sensor; Host–guest chemistry; Supramolecular system; Fluorescent sensor; Host–guest chemistry; Supramolecular system; Chemical sensing
• ISSN: 0167-7322; 1873-3166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2024.125163

Rapidly prepared and screened supramolecular fluorescent sensors based on indicator displacement for the sensing of metal ions. [Display omitted] •Practical analytical use of self-assembly and host–guest binding in complex system.•A simple preparation method of multiple sensors based on an inexpensive dye.•A rapid screening method to discover workable sensors.•Metal ion detection in live cells. Fluorescent sensors capable of identification and quantitation of metal ions are of great importance for biological and environmental sciences. Supramolecular fluorescent sensors are designed and prepared based on the complexation of host-dye and ligand–metal ion. Two hosts, one commercially-available dye and eight ligands are used to form 16 potential three-component supramolecular sensors, which are screened to discover workable sensors. Among the workable sensors, one fluorescent sensor is capable of the identification of Cu2+ from nine other metal ions. Other suitable fluorescent sensors may be used for the quantitative analysis of metal ions in buffered solution, and metal sensing in live cells. This new analytical method provides an approach to rapidly generate sensors for different metal ions.