A highly selective and sensitive ICT-based Cu2+ fluorescent probe and its application in bioimaging

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 262; p. 115127
• Main Authors: Liu, Xina, Shi, Taozhong, Xu, Chenyang, Zhu, Meiqing, Wang, Yi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.09.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cu2; Density functional theory; Fluorescent probe; Imaging; Reversible; Cu2; Reversible; Density functional theory; Imaging; Fluorescent probe
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115127

Cu2+ is an essential trace element for the organism, but its excess can also cause irreversible damage to the organism. As such, a “Turn-Off” fluorescent probe DPAP for the specific detection of Cu2+ was successfully constructed. DPAP exhibits large Stokes shift (120 nm), fast reaction speed (1 min), low detection limit (15.2 nM), low toxicity, and good cell permeability. Cu2+ quenches the fluorescence of DPAP by blocking its intramolecular charge transfer process to achieve the detection of Cu2+ and has been confirmed by HRMS, 1H NMR and DFT calculations. Excitingly, the five-cycle detection of Cu2+ and the successful recovery of trace Cu2+ in environmental water samples fully demonstrate the potential of DPAP for practical applications. In particular, DPAP can observe the distribution and translocation patterns of exogenous Cu2+ in HeLa cells and zebrafish in real-time. This research concept has offered important theoretical support for the study of the environmental behavior of heavy metal ions. [Display omitted] •A reversible highly selective ICT-based Cu2+ fluorescent probe was developed.•DPAP has low cytotoxicity, high sensitivity and strong tissue penetration.•DPAP can detect Cu2+ in environmental water samples in multiple cycles.•DPAP can visualize the uptake and migration of exogenous Cu2+ in vivo in real-time.