A Nir Fluorescent Probe for Detecting Hg2+ and its Multiple Application in Biological Systems and Environmental Media

Abstract

A near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe based on TICT effect was designed and synthesized to establish a sensitive method for detecting Hg2+. This method had excellent selectivity, sensitivity and anti-interference ability in detecting Hg2+. Additionally, after the addition of Hg2+, the interaction between the probe and Hg2+ causes the thiocarbonate to fall off, resulting in a red shift of the absorption peak of the probe. The linear detection range of the probe and Hg2+ was 0-10 μM and the detection limit was 6.57 nM. In the real sample experiments, the recovery rate of the probe to Hg2+ was from 93.79% to 101.12% in the detection system made of different concentrations of Hg2+ in each water sample, indicating that the probe has corresponding research value in the field of environmental monitoring. Biological experiments had proved that the probe not only had low cytotoxicity, but also successfully achieved visual detection of Hg2+ in cells and zebrafish.

Keywords: Near-infrared probe, dicyanoisoflurone, Hg2+, Cell imaging