Fluorescent Probe for Recognizing Fe³⁺ in Aqueous Solutions and its Applications

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Chemical Sensing
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate detection of Fe³⁺ is crucial for environmental monitoring and biological studies.
• Existing methods for Fe³⁺ detection often suffer from poor selectivity or complex procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fluorescent probe (LD) for the selective and sensitive detection of Fe³⁺ in aqueous solutions.
• To explore the application of the probe in visual detection and biological imaging.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of the fluorescent probe LD.
• Spectroscopic analysis to study the interaction between LD and Fe³⁺.
• Evaluation of probe selectivity, sensitivity, and mechanism (PET).
• Fabrication of LD-loaded test strips and cotton swabs for visual detection.
• Application of the probe in HeLa cell imaging.

Main Results:

• The fluorescent probe LD demonstrated high selectivity for Fe³⁺ detection with 95% quenching efficiency.
• A low detection limit of 0.70 μM for Fe³⁺ was achieved.
• The probe showed no interference from other common metal ions.
• LD forms a 1:1 complex with Fe³⁺, leading to fluorescence quenching via a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism.
• Visual detection of Fe³⁺ was achieved using LD-loaded test strips and cotton swabs, with a distinct color change under UV light.
• The probe maintained selectivity across a physiological pH range and was successfully applied in HeLa cell imaging.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorescent probe LD offers a highly selective, sensitive, and visual method for Fe³⁺ detection.
• The probe's ability to function in aqueous solutions, its selectivity, and its applicability in cell imaging highlight its potential for various analytical and biomedical applications.