A bright water-compatible sugar-rhodamine fluorescence sensor for selective detection of Hg2+ in natural water and living cells.
By combination of a sugar group and a rhodamine group into one molecule, a bright and specific fluorescent sensor for Hg(2+) in natural water and living cells was achieved. RG1 features the high quantum efficiency for a Hg(2+)-bound sensor in natural water and sensitivity to environmentally relevant mercury in complex natural samples. The limit of detection of Hg(2+) of 1 ppb level suggests that RG1 is capable of distinguishing between the safe and toxic levels of inorganic mercury in drinking water. RG1 also establishes excellent Hg(2+)-ion specificity over alkali-, alkaline-earth metals and the first-row transition metals as well as Pb(2+) and Ag(+). Investigation on the fluorescence imaging of Hg(2+) in living cells demonstrates that RG1 might be used for monitoring Hg(2+) within biological samples.
Huang
Wei
W
Coordination Chemistry Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
Zhou
Peng
P
Yan
Wenbo
W
He
Cheng
C
Xiong
Liqin
L
Li
Fuyou
F
Duan
Chunying
C
D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D002241:Carbohydrates; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012235:Rhodamines; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury