Development of indole-based fluorescent probe for detection of fluoride and cell imaging of HepG2

A fluorescent probe IDS based on indole ring was designed and synthesized. It has been successfully developed for highly selective detection of fluoride ions with a low detection of 1.3 ppb. Besides, the probe IDS was used for fluorescence imaging of F− in HepG2 cells and detected the concentration of fluoride ions in the environmental water samples and urine sample. These applications suggested that IDS was a sensitive probe in research and potential for the diagnosis of endemic fluorosis.