A New Highly Selective Fluorescent K⁺ Sensor

Abstract

We describe the synthesis, properties, and application of a new fluorescent potassium chemosensor, KS2, for K+ sensing and imaging in live cells. By virtue of a strong electron-withdrawing group, 2-dicyanomethylene-3-cyano-4,5,5-trimethyl-2,5-dihydrofuran (TCF), with a triazacryptand (TAC) ligand, the new sensor can respond to K+ up to 1.6 M. This is the first highly selective intracellular sensor suitable for sensing K+ over a broad and high concentration range. Confocal fluorescence microscopy has established the utility of KS2 for live-cell K+ detection. Application of KS2 combined with other sensors will be of great benefit for investigating cellular metabolism, detecting and diagnosing diseases including cancer, and monitoring responses to therapy.

Near-IR Two-Photon Fluorescent Sensor for K+ Imaging in Live Cells

“…13 The linear fitting in Figure S3 evidenced 1:1 complexation behavior of sensor 1. 13 The detection limit of 1 for K + was determined to be 5.4 × 10 −7 M, which is suitable for detecting physiological K + levels (5−150 mM). 13 In addition, the pH sensitivity of 1 was investigated as a function of pH between 3.0 and 8.0 in 9:1 (v/v) H 2 O/MeCN solution.…”

“…13 The detection limit of 1 for K + was determined to be 5.4 × 10 −7 M, which is suitable for detecting physiological K + levels (5−150 mM). 13 In addition, the pH sensitivity of 1 was investigated as a function of pH between 3.0 and 8.0 in 9:1 (v/v) H 2 O/MeCN solution. Figure S4 shows the fluorescence emission spectra of 1 at various pH.…”

K-D:rib dampens Hs 578T cancer cell chemoinvasion and proliferation

“…Our previous study [1] focused on the strong antioxidant effect of potassium ascorbate on red blood cell oxidation [2,3] highlighted the ascorbate involvement as carrier of K + inside the cells. The role of D-ribose in the energetic metabolism [4,5] and its involvement into glycogen synthesis, as well as the importance of K + into the cell physiology, are well known [6,7].…”

Highly sensitive salicylic fluorophore for visual detection of picomole amounts of Cu2+

“…Among various modes of sensing, the observation and measurement of uorescence signal change is one of the most sensitive, rapid, simple and non-destructive. [15][16][17][18] In certain systems, a naked eye detection of Cu 2+ is possible even at nanomole levels. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Conjugated polymers (CPs) have been selected for detection of Cu 2+ for their high uorescence quenching sensitivity caused by the ampli-cation effect originating from their efficient intramolecular energy and electron transfer-processes.…”