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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
A multifunctional fluorescent probe for detecting metal cations based on a novel zinc coordination polymer
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A novel zinc-based coordination polymer, namely [Zn(HDPNA)(2,2'-bipy)]n (1, H3DPNA = 2-(3,5-dicarboxylphenyl)nicotinic acid, 2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), was successfully constructed through a mixed-ligand strategy. Fluorescence analysis revealed that 1 displayed selective fluorescence enhancement exclusively towards Ag+ ions, with a detection limit of 9.73 × 10-9 M, which may be due to π···Ag+···π interactions formed between Ag+ ions and the suitably arranged ligands in the polymer. Molecular docking results confirmed that such interactions enhance electron delocalization and inhibit non-radiative transitions. In addition, 1 exhibited highly selective luminescence quenching responses towards Cu2+ and Co2+ ions, with detection limits of 8.75 × 10-9 M and 4.36 × 10-9 M, respectively. The addition of excessive glutathione enabled 1 to display different 'on' and 'off' behaviors towards Cu2+ and Co2+ and thus allowed to assess even mixtures of these cations. With respect to the detection mechanism of 1 towards Cu2+ and Co2+, we suggest based on theoretical calculations that photoinduced electron transfer (PET) may lead to fluorescence quenching. Detection experiments under realistic conditions have proved that this new fluorescence sensor can be applied to the detection of Ag+, Cu2+ and Co2+ in real life samples, e.g. tap water. Coordination polymer 1 represents an efficient and multifunctional chemical sensor platform based on 'on-off' fluorescence detection and may provide guidance for the advanced development of multi-ions sensors based on coordination compounds.
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