A novel fluorescent probe for sensitive detection copper in food samples and in vivo

Copper (Cu²⁺) play crucial roles in both environmental and biological system, yet excessive levels can disrupt self-purification and accumulate in organisms, posing health risks. Herein, we developed a new fluorescent probe, HCY-Cl-Cu, for selective and sensitive detecting Cu²⁺. HCY-Cl-Cu exhibits a strong fluorescent response to copper ions, achieves a linear correlation range of 0-4 μM, low detection limit (LOD) 66 nM, fast reaction time of 10 min, alongside excellent selectivity. Furthermore, HCY-Cl-Cu displayed low cytotoxicity and successfully used to monitor Cu²⁺ within HepG2 cells and zebrafish models, confirming its effective biological applicability. Importantly, HCY-Cl-Cu can be used for Cu²⁺ detection in real-samples including water, soil, food matrices with excellent recovery rates. These results suggest that HCY-Cl-Cu is a promising tool for both food analysis and biomedical research involving Cu²⁺.