A Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Detecting Lead in Living Cells

Abstract

We present the synthesis, properties, and biological applications of Leadfluor-1 (LF1), a new water-soluble, turn-on fluorescent sensor that is capable of selectively imaging Pb2+ in aqueous solution and in living cells. LF1 combines a fluorescein chromophore and a pseudocrown receptor to provide good selectivity for Pb2+ over a range of biologically and environmentally relevant metal ions in aqueous solution, with sensitivity to parts per billion EPA limits for allowable lead in drinking water. In addition to these attributes, imaging experiments further show that LF1 is the first small-molecule reagent that can be delivered into living cells and report changes in intracellular Pb2+ levels.

A new rhodamine B based fluorometric chemodosimeter for Cu2+ ion in aqueous and cellular media

“…The development of highly sensitive, selective, and cell membrane permeable probes that exhibit a visible "turn-on" fluorescent emission in aqueous media is very much necessary for fluorescence imaging of metal ions in living cells. Till date a number of fluorescence probes has been reported for imaging various intracellular heavy metal ions such as Zn 2 þ , Cd 2 þ , Cu þ , Pb 2 þ , Fe 3 þ , Hg 2 þ and Cu 2 þ [14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Abiotic Fluorescent Receptors for Detection of Pb2+ in Aqueous Media as well as Living Cells: Mechanistic and Sensing Aspects

“…Chang et al synthesized and developed a new fluorescent receptor (Figure 1), and studied it for probing Pb 2+ in living cells [38]. Highly selective fluorescent "turn on" response due to photo induced electron transfer (PET) process was achieved in presence of competing ions under simulated physiological conditions (HEPES, pH 7) [39].…”

A high selective fluorescent sensor for Ni(II) ion in acetonitrile

“…Therefore, many fluorescent sensors for sensing metal ions (such as Zn(II) [7], Cd(II) [8], Cu(II) [9], Pb(II) [10], Hg(II) [11] and Cr(III) [12]) have been successfully designed and synthesized. Although some chromogenic sensor for Ni(II) ion have been reported [13], the fluorescent sensor for Ni(II) ions is extremely rare.…”