A novel turn-on fluorescent probe for Al3+ and Fe3+ in aqueous solution and its imaging in living cells

Abstract

A quinoline-based fluorescence probe has been prepared and characterized. Probe 1 showed a selective sensing ability for Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions through fluorescence enhancement response at 515nm when it was excited at 360nm. In the presence of Fe³⁺ ion, probe 1 exhibited a detection limit of 2.10×10^-6M. As for Al³⁺, its detection limit of 3.58×10^-7M was significantly lower than the highest limit of Al³⁺ in drinking water recommended by the WHO (7.41μM), representing a rare example in reported fluorescent probe for Al³⁺ ion. The fluorescence microscopy experiments have demonstrated that probe 1 could be used in live cells for the detection of Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions.

Keywords: Al(3+) and Fe(3+) detection; Fluorescence turn-on; Probe; Quinoline.