Two novel spirobifluorene-based two-photon fluorescent probes for the detection of hydrazine in solution and living cells

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 218; p. 121210
• Main Authors: Yan, Shoucai, Guo, Hongda, Tan, Jingjing, Jiang, Jianlan, Liang, Jingjing, Yan, Shuyu, Xiao, Haibo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Bioimaging; Colorimetry; Fluorescent Dyes; Fluorescent probe; Humans; Hydrazine; Hydrazines; Photons; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Spirobifluorene; Two-photon absorption; Two-photon absorption; Bioimaging; Spirobifluorene; Hydrazine; Fluorescent probe
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121210

Two spirobifluorene-based two-photon fluorescent probes for the detection of hydrazine, namely SPF-MN and SPF- PA, have been designed and synthesized. Along with the addition of hydrazine to a solution of SPF-MN, both a colorimetric change from yellow to colorless and a fluorescence change from yellow to blue (Under 365 nm UV light) can be observed by ‘‘naked-eye’’. Probe SPF- PA displayed response toward hydrazine with fluorescence enhancement. The detection limits are 6.9 μM for SPF- PA and 0.29 μM for SPF-MN, respectively. Moreover, SPF-MN and SPF- PA can be used as two-photon fluorescent probes for hydrazine with large two-photon absorption cross-sections and used for the imaging of hydrazine in living cells. Specially, SPF-PA can located at the surface of the cells, and it is the first fluorescent probe which possesses the capability of sensing intercellular hydrazine. Besides, SPF-MN is the first colorimetric two-photon fluorescent probe for meeting the criteria of both hydrazine bioimaging and visual detection of hydrazine in solution. [Display omitted] •Spirobifluorene-based probes for hydrazine detection have been reported for the first time.•Two probes were successfully applied to the two-photon fluorescence imaging of hydrazine in the living cells.•One dye is the first colorimetric two-photon fluorescent probe for hydrazine.•Another dye is the first fluorescent probe which has the potential to detect intercellular hydrazine.