A Selective and Reversible Fluorescent Probe for Zn²⁺ Detection in Living Cells

A newly 8-aminoquioline based fluorescent probe (NQA) was designed and synthesized as a good turn-on fluorescence sensor to reversibly detect Zn2+. The probe can detect Zn2+ in an aqueous solution with good selectivity without interference from other metal ions (Cd2+ in particular). And the limit of detection was calculated to be 2.15x10(-9) M. The probe can efficiently monitor the change of concentration of Zn2+ in a broad pH range from 4.0 to 11.0. NQA can detection of Zn2+ reversibly based on the coordination interaction. NQA is biocompatibility and can be used to monitor the concentration of Zn2+ in living cells without the interference from other similar cations, especially Cd2+.