Luminescent lanthanide complexes with analyte-triggered antenna formation.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Development of responsive luminescent probes is crucial for chemical and biological sensing.
• Existing probes often lack versatility or require complex synthesis for different analytes.
• Lanthanide luminescence offers unique photophysical properties but requires efficient sensitization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a new strategy for creating analyte-responsive luminescent probes.
• To demonstrate the versatility of this strategy for detecting diverse analytes.
• To enable real-time monitoring of enzymatic activity in live cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilized lanthanide (Eu, Tb) centers for luminescence.
• Developed a caged precursor strategy where analyte triggers antenna formation.
• Synthesized and tested probes for palladium, hydrogen peroxide, fluoride, and β-galactosidase.

Main Results:

• Successfully switched on lanthanide luminescence via analyte-triggered antenna formation.
• Achieved nanomolar to micromolar detection limits for various analytes.
• Demonstrated parallel detection of two analytes and application in live-cell imaging.

Conclusions:

• The presented strategy provides a versatile platform for designing analyte-responsive luminescent probes.
• This approach allows for the creation of multiple probes from a single core structure.
• The probes are suitable for sensitive detection and monitoring of biological processes in live cells.