Visualization of Zn²⁺ ions in live zebrafish using a luminescent iridium(III) chemosensor

A novel luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complex-based chemosensor (1) bearing a zinc-specific receptor, tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and the 3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole ligand has been designed and synthesized. Upon the addition of Zn(2+) ions to a solution of iridium(III) complex 1, a pronounced luminescence color change from blue to green can be observed, which may be attributed to the suppression of photoinduced electron transfer upon complexation of complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions. The interaction of iridium(III) complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions was investigated by UV-vis absorption titration, emission titration, and (1)H NMR titration. Furthermore, the iridium(III) complex 1 exhibited good selectivity for Zn(2+) over 13 other common metal ions, including K(+), Ag(+), Na(+), Ni(2+), Fe(3+), Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Pb(2+) ions. The practical application of the iridium(III) complex 1 in visualizing intracellular Zn(2+) distribution in live zebrafish was also demonstrated.