A rhodamine-based 'turn-on' fluorescent probe for Fe3+ in aqueous solution and its application in bioimaging

摘要

A novel colorimetric and off-on fluorescent chemosensor which contained a strong electron-withdrawing group was synthesized. As expected, the chemosensor exhibited high selectivity and excellent sensitivity in both absorbance and fluorescence detection of Fe3+ (I similar to (CH3OH, H2O) = 3/7, 1 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH = 7.40). Upon addition of Fe3+, the solution of the chemosensor resulted in a color change from colorless to obvious pink. These significant changes in color could be used for naked-eye detection. Furthermore, fluorescence imaging experiments of Fe3+ ions in living MGC-803 cells demonstrated its value of practical applications in biological systems.