An aggregation-induced emission-based fluorescence turn-on probe for Hg²⁺ and its application to detect Hg²⁺ in food samples

Abstract

In this work, we presented a new tetraphenylethene-derived fluorescent probe TPE-M for Hg 2+ detection in an aqueous solution. Probe TPE-M is molecularly dissolved in CH 3 OH/PBS (20 mM, pH ¼ 7.4) (3 : 7, v/v) mixed solution and is almost non-emissive. Reaction of TPE-M with Hg 2+ leads to release of an AIEactive precursor 4, and results in a significant fluorescence enhancement. The Hg 2+ recognition process has some distinct advantages including rapid response, high selectivity and sensitivity, strong antiinterference ability, and a low detection limit (4.16 Â 10 À6 M). Moreover, the probe is applicable to detect Hg 2+ in real food samples such as shrimp, crab and teas, suggesting the practical applicability of TPE-M.

Reaction-Triggered ESIPT Active Water-Soluble Polymeric Probe for Potential Detection of Hg2+/CH3Hg+ in Both Environmental and Biological Systems

“…These systems utilize a particular chemical reaction between the analyte and probe, which eventually converts the probe to a fluorogenic species with unique emission. Several reaction strategies such as deprotection of thioacetal, ester hydrolysis, 1,3,4-oxadiazole formation, alkyne or vinyl ether oxymercuration, etc., have been utilized in recent years to develop irreversible probes for Hg 2+ detection with excellent selectivity. − It is well documented that mercaptal compounds can efficiently react with Hg 2+ as well as with CH 3 Hg + and can be converted to an aldehyde group, where none of the other available metal ions can.…”

A Novel Camphor-Based “Turn-on” Fluorescent Probe with High Specificity and Sensitivity for Sensing Mercury(II) in Aqueous Medium and Its Bioimaging Application

“…Comparatively, fluorescence sensing technologies have attracted increasing attention due to their rapid response, excellent sensitivity, high specificity, and real-time monitoring. − Moreover, compared with other conventional techniques, the cost of fluorescence sensing technologies is low because they can detect specific or multiple species without resorting to expensive test equipment, complicated sample pretreatment, and strict detection condition. Over the past few decades, a great deal of fluorescent probes has been exploited for determining Hg 2+ in biological and environmental systems, and these Hg 2+ -responsive fluorescent probes are based on the reversible complexation or irreversible reaction. − Unfortunately, many chelation-based fluorescent probes for determining Hg 2+ are reported to operate mainly through a fluorescence “turn-off” process. − By contrast, the reaction-based fluorescent probes usually exhibit enhanced fluorescence signals by virtue of the strong thiophilic affinity of Hg 2+ and have drawn increasing interest in recent years. − As a result, an increasing number of fluorescent probes have been explored for sensing Hg 2+ by employing various types of Hg 2+ receptors including thione, thionocarbonate, thiourea, and thioacetal. − However, most of these reported Hg 2+ -specific probes only work well in organic solvent or organic solvent–water mixture, which severely restricts their utilization for monitoring and imaging Hg 2+ in living systems. As a consequence, it is in dire need to develop novel and efficient fluorescent probes for detecting Hg 2+ in aqueous solution.…”

AIEgens: An emerging fluorescent sensing tool to aid food safety and quality control

“…Metal ion-mediated chemical reactions, such as transmetalation, hydrolysis, and ligand to metal charge transfer, were also used to regulate the fluorescent emission of AIEgens (Chatterjee et al, 2017;Kang, Liao et al, 2018;Tang, Yu, Zhong, Gao, & Li, 2019). presented an AIE-active 2,2'-(((4-(4,5bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl) methylene)bis-(sulfanediyl))diethanol probe (donated as MPIPBS) for sensing Hg 2+ (Figure 12c).…”