Lighting up fluoride ions in cellular mitochondria using a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Chemical Biology

Background:

• Fluoride ions are crucial in biological systems, but their dysregulation is linked to various health issues.
• Mitochondria are key organelles involved in cellular metabolism and energy production, and their function can be impacted by ion concentrations.
• Developing selective and sensitive methods for detecting fluoride ions in biological environments, particularly mitochondria, is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel fluorescent probe for the highly selective and sensitive detection of fluoride ions.
• To investigate the probe's ability to visualize fluoride ions within mitochondria.
• To assess the practical application of the probe for fluoride detection in aqueous solutions using test strips.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of the novel fluorescent probe.
• Confocal fluorescence microscopy to visualize fluoride ions in mitochondria.
• Preparation of fluoride ion test strips using the developed probe.
• Determination of the detection limit for fluoride ions in aqueous solutions.

Main Results:

• The fluorescent probe exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity towards fluoride ions.
• The probe successfully detected and visualized fluoride ions within mitochondria, emitting a strong green fluorescence.
• Fluoride test strips were prepared, demonstrating the probe's utility for simple and rapid detection.
• A low detection limit of 19 ppb for fluoride ions in aqueous solutions was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorescent probe is a valuable tool for detecting fluoride ions with high selectivity and sensitivity.
• The probe enables the visualization of fluoride ions in mitochondria, offering insights into cellular fluoride dynamics.
• The probe's applicability in test strip format facilitates convenient fluoride detection in aqueous samples.