A ratiometric fluorescent probe for iron(III) and its application for detection of iron(III) in human blood serum.
A simple and versatile ratiometric fluorescent Fe(3+) detecting system, probe 1, was rationally developed based on the Fe(3+)-mediated deprotection of acetal reaction. Notably, this reaction was firstly employed to design fluorescent Fe(3+) probe. Upon treatment with Fe(3+), probe 1 showed ratiometric response, with the fluorescence spectra displaying significant red shift (up to 132 nm) and the emission ratio value (I522/I390) exhibiting approximately 2362-fold enhancement. In addition, the probe is highly sensitive (with the detection limit of 0.12 μM) and highly selective to Fe(3+) over other biologically relevant metal ions. The sensing reaction product of the probe with Fe(3+) was confirmed by NMR spectra and mass spectrometry. TD-DFT calculation has demonstrated that the ratiometric response of probe 1 to Fe(3+) is due to the regulation of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) efficiency. Moreover, the practical utility in fluorescence detection of Fe(3+) in human blood serum was also conducted, and probe 1 represents the first ratiometric fluorescent probe that can be used to monitor Fe(3+) level in human blood serum. Finally, probe 1 was further employed in living cell imaging with pancreatic cancer cells, in which it displayed low cytotoxicity, satisfactory cell permeability, and selective ratiometric response to Fe(3+).
Functional Molecular Materials Research Centre, Scientific Research Academy & School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China. Electronic address: Linglianglong@gmail.com.
Lingliang
L
Long
Functional Molecular Materials Research Centre, Scientific Research Academy & School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China.
Liping
L
Zhou
Functional Molecular Materials Research Centre, Scientific Research Academy & School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China.
Lin
L
Wang
Functional Molecular Materials Research Centre, Scientific Research Academy & School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China.
Suci
S
Meng
School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China.
Aihua
A
Gong
Functional Molecular Materials Research Centre, Scientific Research Academy & School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, PR China. Electronic address: Chizhang@ujs.edu.cn.
Chi
C
Zhang
D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes
Dyes/pigments; Fluorescence; Fluorescent probes; Iron; Ratiometric