title: A sensitive and selective near-infrared fluorescent probe for mercuric ions and its biological imaging applications.
abstract: A new mercury(II) near-infrared region fluorescent probe 3,9-dithia-6-monoazaundecane-tricarbocyanine has been designed and synthesized. It consists of two functional moieties: the tricarbocyanine performs as the near-infrared region fluorophore, and the 3,9-dithia-6-monoazaundecane acts as the selected binding site for metal ions. The near-IR excitation and emission profiles of the probe can minimize cell and tissue damage and avoid native fluorescence from natural cellular species. It exhibits fluorescence increase upon the binding of the Hg(2+) based on the inhibition of the photoinduced electron transfer quenching mechanism. Excellent sensitivity and selectivity for mercuric ions are observed with this probe. The value of the system is demonstrated by its use in monitoring the real-time uptake of Hg(2+) within HepG2 cells and five day old zebrafish. The synthesis and remarkable properties of it help to extend the development of metal ions fluorescent probes for biological applications.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China. tangb@sdnu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Li Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Ke Hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Gui Wen
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Li Guo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D004579:Electron Transport; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008628:Mercury