A new Rhodamine B-based 'on-off' chemical sensor with high selectivity and sensitivity toward Fe(3+) and its imaging in living cells

Bioorg Med Chem. 2014 Sep 1;22(17):4826-35. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.06.054. Epub 2014 Jul 8.

Abstract

A new fluorescent chemosensor based on a Rhodamine B and pyrrole conjugate (RBPY) has been designed and synthesized. UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies show that RBPY exhibits a high selectivity and sensitivity toward Fe(3+) among many other metal cations in a MeOH/H2O solution (3:2, v/v, pH 7.10, HEPES buffer, 0.1mM) by forming a 1:1 complex with Fe(3+). Furthermore, results reveal that the formation of the RBPY-Fe(3+) complex is fully reversible in the presence of sulfide anions and could also be used as an efficient sensor for S(2-). Importantly, fluorescence microscopy experiments further demonstrated that RBPY can be utilized as a fluorescent probe for the detection of Fe(3+) in human liver (L-02) cells.

Keywords: Cell imaging; Chemosensor; Fe(III) ions; Fluorescence; Rhodamine B derivative.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival
  • Ferric Compounds / analysis*
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Imaging*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quantum Theory
  • Rhodamines / chemical synthesis
  • Rhodamines / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Rhodamines
  • rhodamine B