Self-dispersible fluorescent probe with aggregation-induced emission feature for sequence detection of Fe3+ and Ca2+

Abstract In this work, the amphiphilic molecule (called as DEBA) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) feature was synthesized using hydrophobic tetraphenylethylene (TPE) as chromophore and hydrophilic 2-methylaminopyridine to bind with metal ions. The probe could self-assemble in aqueous solution and shows obvious enhanced fluorescence intensity and good water dispersibility. We demonstrated that DEBA could be utilized for selective and highly sensitive “turn-off” detection of Fe3+. Moreover, the fluorescence of probe-Fe3+ complex could restore after adding of Ca2+ and be utilized for “turn-on” detection of Ca2+. The detection limit of probe towards Fe3+ is 2.69 × 10−9 M. To evaluate the potential utilization of probe for sensing Fe3+ and Ca2+ in living organisms, cell viability and CLSM imaging of probe were also examined. The results demonstrated that the probe possesses excellent water dispersibility, low cytotoxicity and could be utilized for sequence detection of Fe3+ and Ca2+ in both aqueous solution and living cells.