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[Display omitted] • KEEP detects inorganic mercury ions based on fluorescence quenching response. • KEEP detects organic mercury based on fluorescence enhanced response. • KEEP-Hg2+ can detect hydrogen sulfide through fluorescence reproduction. • KEEP achieved fluorescence imaging of Hg2+ and H 2 S in living cells. Mercury species, including inorganic and organic mercury, are extremely harmful to organisms and the environment. Therefore, it is of great significance to rapidly and selectively detect and distinguish inorganic mercury ions and organic mercury. This study reports peptide sequences that can act as inorganic mercury ions and organic mercury ligands. The peptide fluorescent probe KEEP ((Dansyl-Glu-Glu) 2 -Lys-NH 2) can detect mercury species by its coordination with the side chain of glutamic acid. Hg2+ can be detected by the "turn-off" fluorescence mode, while CH 3 Hg+ and PhHg+ can be detected by the "turn-on" fluorescence mode. This probe with different fluorescence response to inorganic and organic mercury is very rare, which makes it possible to distinguish between Hg2+, CH 3 Hg+ and PhHg+. KEEP-Hg2+ can also detect hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) through fluorescence reproduction. KEEP can detect these three analytes without interference from other substances due to excellent selectivity. KEEP also has good biocompatibility and low biotoxicity, and can successfully monitor the accumulation of Hg2+ and S2- in living cells. This probe provides a new approach for the detection of inorganic mercury and organic mercury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel multicolor probe based on Zif-8 and rare earth. • Realization of TC visual detection with high recognition. • Ultrafast POCT detection of TC in various water and food samples. • Combined application of gelled detection device and intelligent APP. In this work, a high-precision visual and point-of-care testing (POCT) ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor for TC was constructed by embedding fluorescein (FL) into l -histidine modified ZIF-8 (LZIF-8) and chelating with rare earth citrate complex. Upon exposure to TC, the coordination and energy transfer between Eu3+ and TC make Eu3+ sensitized emission characteristic red fluorescence, while without prejudice to the emission peak intensity of FL. This ratiometric fluorescent probe with stable reference signal had the characteristics of high sensitivity (ultralow LOD = 5.99 nM) and selectivity and fast response kinetics (within 20 s). The high-bright fluorescence emission was beneficial to human eye recognition and it can realize semi-quantitative detection of TC in eggs, meeting the requirements of household use. In addition, the color can be read and analyzed quickly with the help of smart phone color analysis APP, and the semi-quantitative concentration of TC can be determined more conveniently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile fluorescence turn-on approach for the detection of l -ascorbic acid (AA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was designed based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs). It is found that the fluorescence intensity of GQDs can be efficiently quenched by para-benzoquinone (BQ). And a turn-on fluorescence signal can be observed if BQ is reduced by AA. In addition, ALP can hydrolyze l -ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (AAP) to produce AA, which also results in the recovery of the GQDs fluorescence. The recovered fluorescence intensity of GQDs was proportional to the concentration of AA or ALP in the concentration ranges of 5.0 × 10 −7 to 2.0 × 10 −5 mol/L and 1.0–90 U/L, respectively. The detection limit for AA and ALP were 2.0 × 10 −7 mol/L and 0.45 U/L. The established method showed a high selectivity for ALP activity compared with other interference components. Furthermore, the detection system as a fluorescence probe has great potential in the development of sensors for widely detecting various analytes with AA producing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]