Nano Fluorescent Probe Based on Acyclic Cucurbituril for Fe3+ Detection in Cells

Abstract

Fe3+ is an essential element for the human body, and its regulation in cells is associated with serious diseases. Therefore, the ability to detect Fe3+ in living cells is highly valuable. In this study, we successfully developed a novel supramolecular fluorescent probe ACB-TPE, based on an acyclic cucurbituril derivative and tetraphenyl ethylene (TPE) derivatives. The ACB-TPE probe retains the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property of TPE, allowing it to achieve highly specific recognition of Fe3+ ions without interference from other metal ions, anions, or amino acids. The binding constant between ACB-TPE and Fe3+ is 1.42 × 105, and the detection limit is 8.36 × 10−8 M. Additionally, the probe displays a high response speed to Fe3+. Importantly, the ACB-TPE probe exhibits strong fluorescence emission in living cells, enabling the detection of Fe3+ through bioimaging. This makes it a valuable tool for studying the role of Fe3+ regulation in cellular processes and disease pathogenesis. Thus, we have successfully developed a novel supramolecular fluorescent probe, ACB-TPE, which can selectively and sensitively detect Fe3+ in living cells. The probe's unique properties and applications make it a significant contribution to the field of cellular metal ion detection and regulation.

Keywords: fluorescent probe, Acyclic cucurbituril, Fe3+ detection, Selective-detection, bioimaging