title: Silica nanoparticles for fluorescence sensing of Zn(II): exploring the covalent strategy.
abstract: Silica nanoparticles (about 15 nm diameters), which contain a derivative of 6-methoxy-8-(p-toluensulfonamido)-quinoline (TSQ) as a Zn(II) fluorescent probe covalently linked to the silica network, were prepared and studied as Zn(II) fluorescent chemosensors. The systems selectively detect Zn(II) ions in water rich solutions with a submicromolar sensitivity: 0.13 microM concentrations of Zn(II) can be measured with the only interference of Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions. Compared with free TSQ, the nanoparticles based systems have the advantage that they can be employed in aqueous solutions without aggregation problems while at the same time, they maintain a similar Zn(II) affinity and sensing ability. Addition of a second, substrate insensitive, fluorophore to the particles leads to the realization of a ratiometric sensor.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche and CNR-ITM, Università di Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teolato
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rampazzo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arduini
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancin
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tecilla
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tonellato