Selective chemosensor capable of sensing both CN− and Zn2+: Its application to zebrafish

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 297; p. 126814
• Main Authors: Jung, Jae Min, Yun, Dongju, Lee, Hyojin, Kim, Ki-Tae, Kim, Cheal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.10.2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Chemical sensors; Chemoreceptors; Chemosensor; Chromophores; Colorimetry; Cyanide; Cyanide process; Fluorescence; Naphthol; Theoretical calculations; Zebrafish; Zebrafish imaging; Zinc ion; Chemosensor; Cyanide; Zinc ion; Theoretical calculations; Zebrafish imaging
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2019.126814

[Display omitted] •A highly selective fluorescent and colorimetric sensor AIN for CN− and Zn2+ was synthesized.•Chemosensor AIN showed the fluorescent detection of CN− in live zebrafish.•Chemosensor AIN could detect Zn2+ by fluorescent method.•Sensing mechanism for CN− and Zn2+ was explained by theoretical calculations. We reported a novel naphthol-based chemosensor AIN ((E)-1-(((5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)imino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol) for CN− and Zn2+, which comprises of imine as a chromophore and naphthol group as a fluorophore. Chemosensor AIN, in a near-perfect aqueous solution, selectively responds to CN− with colorimetric and fluorescent alterations whereas it responds to Zn2+ in dimethylformamide with a fluorescent change. A notable color transition from yellow to colorless was shown for AIN in the presence of cyanide via a nucleophilic addition process, while Zn2+ was sensed through π → π* transition with a unique fluorescence enhancement. We characterized the sensing properties of AIN toward CN− and Zn2+ with the application of photophysical experiments and theoretical calculation. Moreover, AIN with the great photostability and low biotoxicity demonstrated fluorescent bio-imaging of CN− in live zebrafish.