A reversible fluorescent probe for monitoring Ag(I) ions

Zelong Lim; David G Smith; Jacek L Kolanowski; Rebecca L Mattison; Jonathan C Knowles; Song-Yi Baek; Wojciech Chrzanowski; Elizabeth J New

doi:10.1098/rsif.2018.0346

A reversible fluorescent probe for monitoring Ag(I) ions

J R Soc Interface. 2018 Jul;15(144):20180346. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0346.

Authors

Zelong Lim¹, David G Smith¹, Jacek L Kolanowski¹, Rebecca L Mattison¹, Jonathan C Knowles^{2

3

4}, Song-Yi Baek², Wojciech Chrzanowski^{5

6}, Elizabeth J New^{7

6}

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
² Division of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, University College London Eastman Dental Institute, London WC1X 8LD, UK.
³ The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, UCL Campus, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 Plus NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.
⁵ The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia wojciech.chrzanowski@sydney.edu.au.
⁶ The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
⁷ School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia elizabeth.new@sydney.edu.au.

Abstract

Silver-containing nanomaterials are of interest for their antibiotic properties, for a wide range of applications from medicine to consumer products. However, much remains to be learnt about the degradation of such materials and their effects on human health. While most analyses involve measurement of total silver levels, it is important also to be able to measure concentrations of active free Ag(I) ions. We report here the preparation of a coumarin-based probe, thiocoumarin silver sensor 1 (TcAg1), that responds reversibly to the addition of silver ions through the appearance of a new fluorescence emission peak at 565 nm. Importantly, this peak is not observed in the presence of Hg(II), a common interferent in Ag(I) sensing. To establish the utility of this sensor, we prepared silver-doped phosphate glasses with demonstrated bactericidal properties, and observed the Ag(I) release from these glasses in solutions of different ionic strength. TcAg1 is therefore a useful tool for the study of the environmental and medical effects of silver-containing materials.

Keywords: antibacterial; fluorescent probe; phosphate glass; silver.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacteria / growth & development
Candida albicans / growth & development
Coumarins / chemistry*
Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
Silver / analysis*
Silver / pharmacology
Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

Coumarins
Fluorescent Dyes
Silver