Bismuth-MOF based on tetraphenylethylene derivative as a luminescent sensor with turn-off/on for application of Fe3+ detection in serum and bioimaging, as well as emissive spectra analysis by TRES

Abstract A novel MOF Bi-TCBPE ([Bi(TCBPE)(H2O)]·(Me2NH2+)) based on 4′,4‴,4″‴,4‴‴-(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayl)tetrakis(([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid)) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, IR, UV–vis spectroscopy and thermogravimetry analysis, which exhibits strong emission (ΦF = 76.96%) in methanol suspension.The photophysical process was analyzed by TRES. Structural analysis revealed that Bi-TCBPE showed a novel two-fold interpenetrated packing framework. Luminescence measurements indicate that the Bi-TCBPE sensor shows sensing behavior with “turn off” towards Fe3+ and “turn on” towards Cysteine (Cys) significantly. Bi-TCBPE as a luminescent sensor displays quenching effect towards Fe3+ detection in the interference of Fe2+. It also can be used for the quantitative determination of Fe3+ in serum. The results will provide a great possibility for the practical application of luminescent metal organic frameworks (LMOFs) in clinical detection.