A novel colorimetric/fluorescent dual-signal probe based on silver nanoparticles functionalized with L-cysteine and rhodamine 6G derivatives for copper ion detection and cell imaging

Mingrong Lu; Yao Zhang; Shaoqing Li; Yifei Zhang; Shuju Fang; Wenrong Yang; Min Yang; Hongbin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116540

A novel colorimetric/fluorescent dual-signal probe based on silver nanoparticles functionalized with _L-cysteine and rhodamine 6G derivatives for copper ion detection and cell imaging

Environ Res. 2023 Nov 1;236(Pt 1):116540. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116540. Epub 2023 Jul 3.

Authors

Mingrong Lu¹, Yao Zhang², Shaoqing Li³, Yifei Zhang⁴, Shuju Fang⁵, Wenrong Yang⁶, Min Yang⁷, Hongbin Wang⁸

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Resource Clean Conversion in Ethnic Regions, Education Department of Yunnan, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China. Electronic address: 1907382795@qq.com.
² Key Laboratory of Resource Clean Conversion in Ethnic Regions, Education Department of Yunnan, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China. Electronic address: 2679554964@qq.com.
³ Key Laboratory of Resource Clean Conversion in Ethnic Regions, Education Department of Yunnan, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China. Electronic address: lishaoqingmm@163.co.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Resource Clean Conversion in Ethnic Regions, Education Department of Yunnan, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China. Electronic address: 1762646849@qq.com.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Resource Clean Conversion in Ethnic Regions, Education Department of Yunnan, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China. Electronic address: 743372267@qq.com.
⁶ School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3217, Australia. Electronic address: wenrong.yang@deakin.edu.au.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Resource Clean Conversion in Ethnic Regions, Education Department of Yunnan, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China. Electronic address: 826677468@qq.com.
⁸ Key Laboratory of Resource Clean Conversion in Ethnic Regions, Education Department of Yunnan, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China. Electronic address: wanghb2152@126.com.

PMID: 37406725
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116540

Abstract

The dual-signal probe utilizing functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is a promising sensing tool. Herein, a novel colorimetric/fluorescent dual-signal probe (AgNPs-_L-Cys-Rh6G2) was fabricated for copper ion (Cu²⁺) detection and cell imaging by using _L-cysteine as a "bridge" to connect AgNPs and rhodamine 6G derivatives. The AgNPs-_L-Cys-Rh6G2 probe exhibits a dual-signal response to Cu²⁺ due to Rh6G2 hydrolysis, resulting in a high fluorescence response and a significant change in color from light yellow to pink under sunlight. The linear detection ranges of the AgNPs-_L-Cys-Rh6G2 probe for Cu²⁺ were 100-450 μM and 150-650 μM using fluorescent and colorimetry methods, respectively. The detection limits were as low as 0.169 μM and 1.36 μM, respectively. Meanwhile, the proposed probe was applied to detect Cu²⁺ in the actual sediment with satisfactory recovery and low relative standard deviation. Furthermore, the probe was further employed for fluorescence imaging in HeLa cells. In brief, the developed AgNPs-_L-Cys-Rh6G2 sensing platform can be used for simultaneous Cu²⁺ determination and cell imaging.

Keywords: (L)-cysteine; Cell imaging; Copper ion; Dual-signal probe; Rhodamine 6G derivatives; Silver nanoparticles.