title: Visualization of Zn²⁺ ions in live zebrafish using a luminescent iridium(III) chemosensor.
abstract: A novel luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complex-based chemosensor (1) bearing a zinc-specific receptor, tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and the 3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole ligand has been designed and synthesized. Upon the addition of Zn(2+) ions to a solution of iridium(III) complex 1, a pronounced luminescence color change from blue to green can be observed, which may be attributed to the suppression of photoinduced electron transfer upon complexation of complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions. The interaction of iridium(III) complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions was investigated by UV-vis absorption titration, emission titration, and (1)H NMR titration. Furthermore, the iridium(III) complex 1 exhibited good selectivity for Zn(2+) over 13 other common metal ions, including K(+), Ag(+), Na(+), Ni(2+), Fe(3+), Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Pb(2+) ions. The practical application of the iridium(III) complex 1 in visualizing intracellular Zn(2+) distribution in live zebrafish was also demonstrated.
authors: Department of Chemistry and ‡Partner State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University , Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Dik-Lung
authors: DL
authors: Ma
authors: Hong-Zhang
authors: HZ
authors: He
authors: Hai-Jing
authors: HJ
authors: Zhong
authors: Sheng
authors: S
authors: Lin
authors: Daniel Shiu-Hin
authors: DS
authors: Chan
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Simon Ming-Yuen
authors: SM
authors: Lee
authors: Chung-Hang
authors: CH
authors: Leung
authors: Chun-Yuen
authors: CY
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism*; D007495:Iridium / Q000737:chemistry*; D049449:Luminescence; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D007495:Iridium