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A novel BF2–curcumin-based fluorescent chemosensor for detection of Cu2+ in aqueous solution and living cells

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Abstract

A novel BF2–curcumin-based chemosensor 1, namely monopicolinate of BF2–curcumin complex, was designed, synthesized and applied for the detection of Cu2+ in aqueous buffer solution and living cells. Sensor 1 exhibited sensitive naked-eye color change toward Cu2+ from blue to pink in TBS solution and the detection limit was estimated to be 0.12 µM. The selectivity of sensor 1 for Cu2+ was high over competing metal ions (Ag+, Cu+, Hg2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Fe2+ and Fe3+). Based on the experimental results, the sensing mechanism was proposed for the Cu2+ triggered hydrolysis of 1 to BF2–curcumin which has unique chromogenic and fluorogenic properties. Compared with other chemosensors with a similar mechanism, chemosensor 1 had a comparatively large Stokes shift and the emission wavelength was close to NIR. Moreover, cell imaging investigations indicated that sensor 1 has the potential to be applied for practical Cu2+ detection in biological systems.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Analytical and Testing Center of Sichuan University for NMR measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Yuan Li, Yu-Xin Ji, Yi Zhang, Zi-Cheng Li & Wen-Cai Huang

  2. Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Lin-Jiang Song & Li Yang

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  1. Yuan Li
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  2. Yu-Xin Ji
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Correspondence to Wen-Cai Huang.

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Li, Y., Ji, YX., Song, LJ. et al. A novel BF2–curcumin-based fluorescent chemosensor for detection of Cu2+ in aqueous solution and living cells. Res Chem Intermed 44, 5169–5180 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-018-3416-y

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