Detection of hazardous mercury ion using [5]helicene-based fluorescence probe with "TurnON" sensing response for practical applications

Nirawit Kaewnok; Jitnapa Sirirak; Siriporn Jungsuttiwong; Yutthana Wongnongwa; Anyanee Kamkaew; Anuwut Petdum; Waraporn Panchan; Somboon Sahasithiwat; Thanasat Sooksimuang; Adisri Charoenpanich; Nantanit Wanichacheva

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126242

Detection of hazardous mercury ion using [5]helicene-based fluorescence probe with "TurnON" sensing response for practical applications

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Sep 15:418:126242. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126242. Epub 2021 May 28.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand.
² Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand.
³ School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand.
⁴ National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
⁵ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand. Electronic address: charoenpanich_a@silpakorn.edu.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand. Electronic address: wanichacheva_n@su.ac.th.

PMID: 34329012
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126242

Abstract

A new fluorescence probe based on [5]helicene derivative (MT) was designed and synthesized. The chemical structure of the probe was fully characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. MT which is the combination of thioamide[5]helicene with Schiff base-thiophene moiety, exhibited a high selectivity to detect Hg²⁺ through irreversible desulfurization reaction with "TurnON" fluorescence response and large Stokes shift of 110 nm in aqueous methanol solution. The detection limit of MT was 1.2 ppb (6.0 × 10^-3 µM), which is lower than the limit of Hg²⁺ level in drinking water, as specified by WHO (6.0 ppb) and U.S. EPA (2.0 ppb). The Hg²⁺ detection range of the probe was 0.07-1.6 µM with good linearity. Under UV irradiation, MT possessed the capability to detect Hg²⁺ in diverse context of real samples, including drinking and sea waters, vegetable tissue and brain tumor cell. In addition, MT could be used as a paper test strip for monitoring and screening of Hg²⁺ contamination in environment.

Keywords: Bio-imaging; Hg(2+) probe; Hg(2+) test strip; Mercury ion; [5]Helicene.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Drinking Water* / analysis
Fluorescent Dyes
Limit of Detection
Mercury* / analysis
Polycyclic Compounds
Spectrometry, Fluorescence
Water

Substances

Drinking Water
Fluorescent Dyes
Polycyclic Compounds
helicenes
Water
Mercury