A dendrimer-based highly sensitive and selective fluorescence-quenching sensor for Fe(3+) both in solution and as film.
A novel fluorescent dendrimer PYTPAG2, with pyrene as the interior core and triphenylamine (TPA) as the exterior periphery, is studied as a fluorescence-quenching sensor for iron (ш) ions (Fe(3+)), both in solution and as a film. This dendrimer-based sensor possesses preferential detection of Fe(3+) by a very strong fluorescence quenching not found for other metal ions. The fluorescent detection limits of this PYTPAG2 sensor for Fe(3+) in solution and thin-film are 6.5×10(-7)M and 5.0×10(-7)M, respectively. The possible mechanism of this process is explained by the complexation between the peripheral TPA units of PYTPAG2 and Fe(3+) ions, which may disrupt the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the TPA groups to the pyrene core (intramolecular of PYTPAG2) and results in the fluorescence quenching. Moreover, this striking performance could not be disturbed by pH, the interference with other metal ions, counter anions, or surrounding environment. In addition, biological fluorescence imaging studies of Fe(3+) in living roundworms demonstrate its valuable practical application.
State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, PR China.
Peng
P
Li
State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, PR China. Electronic address: zhming@jlu.edu.cn.
Ming
M
Zhang
College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, PR China.
Xueke
X
Sun
College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, PR China.
Shuwen
S
Guan
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
Guang
G
Zhang
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: martin.baumgarten@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Martin
M
Baumgarten
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
Klaus
K
Müllen
D000586:Amination; D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000032:analysis; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000379:methods; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D009348:Nematoda / Q000737:chemistry*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*
D002412:Cations; D050091:Dendrimers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011721:Pyrenes; C030984:pyrene; D007501:Iron
Biological imaging; Dendrimer; Fe(3+); Fluorescence quenching; Specific selectivity; Stable sensitivity