An amino-immobilized fluorescent metal-organic frameworks for selective quantification of water lead and blood lead

The development of sensitive Pb²⁺ detection platforms are imperative given its severe environmental and health risks, including irreversible bioaccumulation, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. To address this challenge, we engineered an amino-functionalized lanthanide MOF Eu(BDC-NH₂) as a ligand-emission-driven fluorescent probe for Pb²⁺ quantification. The sensing mechanism originates from coordination-driven host-guest interaction between Pb²⁺ ions and exposed amino sites of the framework, which induces fluorescence quenching. The Eu(BDC-NH₂) achieves an ultra-low detection limit of 86 ppb in aqueous solution, surpassing some conventional methods and aligning with WHO guidelines for drinking water safety. Notably, Eu(BDC-NH₂) firstly demonstrates reliable Pb²⁺ fluorescence quenching responsiveness in the blood suspension, which exhibits this MOF as a fluorescence sensor for both water quality control and preliminary blood lead screening.