A nano sensor for sensitive and selective detection of Cu2+ based on fluorescein: Cell imaging and drinking water analysis

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2019 Jun 5:216:105-116. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2019.03.021. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Abstract

A fluorescein-based nano probe was designed and synthesized for ultra-sensitive detection of Cu2+ in aqueous solution. The formation of fluorescent organic nanoparticles confirmed by using particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy. UV-Vis. absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy displays excellent photophysical properties of prepared nanoparticles as compared to parent molecule i.e. N-(3',6'-dihydroxy-3-oxo-3,3a-dihydrospiro[isoindole-1,9'-xanthene]-2(7aH)-yl)-1-naphthamide (FNH) in acetone. A series of 18 metal ion was examined with FNH nanoparticles (FNHNPs) to examine the change in fluorescence response. Pleasingly, only copper ion (Cu2+) shows selective and sensitive fluorescence enhancement effect, which discussed on chelation-enhanced fluorescence phenomenon. Other competing metal ions does not affect the FNHNPs fluorescence enhancement induced by Cu2+ ion. The excited state complexation through chelation-enhanced fluorescence of FNHNPs was further supported by UV-Vis. absorption and fluorescence decay titration of FNHNPs with and without the addition of Cu2+. The present investigation approach serves extremely low detection limit of 1.62 ng/mL (0.024 μM) for Cu2+ in aqueous solution. In addition, benefit of present study includes practical application for the quantitative estimation of Cu2+ in drinking water sample and intracellular cell imaging for Cu2+.

Keywords: Cell imaging; Chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF); Cu(2+) sensing; Drinking water; Fluorescein; Organic nanoparticles.

MeSH terms

  • Cations, Divalent / analysis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Copper / analysis*
  • Drinking Water / analysis*
  • Fluorescein / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection
  • Models, Molecular
  • Optical Imaging / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*

Substances

  • Cations, Divalent
  • Drinking Water
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Copper
  • Fluorescein