A near-infrared Fluorescent Probe Based on Dicyanisophorone for the Detection of Zinc Ions (Zn 2+ ) in Water and Living Cells

As one of the important metal ions, zinc ions (Zn 2+ ) are widely involved in various physiological and pathological processes, and play fundamental roles in neurotransmission, cell metabolism and apoptosis. However, the convenient monitor of Zn 2+ in environmental and biological samples remains challenging. In this study, a small molecule dicyanoisophorone-based schiff base incorporating with o-phenylenediamine was synthesized. It can rapidly combine with Zn 2+ to emit significant near-infrared fluorescence (maximum emission wavelength: 660 nm), so it can be used as a probe to quantitatively detect Zn 2+ in the range of 0–10 μM, with a detection limit as low as 4.8 nM, showing the probe has high sensitivity for Zn 2+ . And the probe has a fast response time to Zn 2+ (less than 30 s) and a large Stoke-shift (179 nm). In addition, the high recovery rates in practical water samples, and the clear fluorescent images in living A549 cells were obtained, which are of great significance for the detection of Zn 2+ in the environment and biosystem. Due to its simple operation, good selectivity and anti-interference ability, short detection time and high sensitivity, this probe has great application potential as a fast detection tool for Zn 2+ in environmental water and biological samples.