Anion-induced emissive nanoparticles for tunable fluorescence detection of pyrophosphate and bioimaging application

Nanostructures based on molecular assemblies are emerging with promising applications in biosensing, bioimaging and light-harvesting systems. In this study, three terpyridine-based Zn2+ complexes have been prepared and utilized as fluorescent probes for selective detection of pyrophosphate (PPi) over ATP and ADP. These complexes exhibited differential fluorescence responses upon addition of PPi. Both turn-on and ratiometric probes were successfully developed. More importantly, PPi-induced emissive nanoparticles were clearly observed when these terpyridine-based Zn2+ probes were treated with PPi. All probes have been employed for cell imaging and nuclei of cells are lighted up.