"Turn-on" fluorescent dipodal chemosensor for nano-molar detection of Zn2+: application in living cells imaging

Abstract

A malonohydrazide derivative bearing an imine and phenolic group was synthesized and had a high affinity and selectivity towards Zn2þ. The recognition properties of receptor 1 were evaluated using absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. The 1:1 stoichiometry of 1.Zn2þ was confirmed from job's plot, mass spectra and density functional theory (DFT). The detection of Zn2þ in intracellular environment of HeLa cell through confocal microscopy was successfully applied for live cell imaging