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[Display omitted] • A novel hepatocellular carcinoma targeted deferasirox derivative ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 with AIE properties was designed. • ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 can achieves iron overload treatment through carboxylesterase activation. • The "hydrolysis-chelation" process of ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 is characterized by multiple fluorescence changes. • ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 may have promising applications in HCC treatment. The association of excess iron in humans with the incidence and proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been confirmed by numerous studies. In this case, developing a fluorescent probe that can both target HCC and eliminates excess iron in HCC is extremely meaningful. To accomplish these goals, a fluorescent probe ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 was designed and synthesized, which can be selectively hydrolyzed by carboxylesterases (CE), one kind of biomarker in HCC. The fluorescent parent ExPh 2 -CN with unique aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and iron-chelating properties of deferasirox derivatives generated by CE hydrolysis of ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 can further chelate with Fe (III) and target HCC for the treatment of iron excess, and the whole process can be effectively monitored by fluorescence changes. Furthermore, the potential for CE imaging and Fe (III) overload resolution of ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 is demonstrated by experiments in cells and zebrafish at different growth stages. The superior in vivo imaging and chelation properties of the probe ExPh 2 -CNAc 2 may provide a new avenue for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC in iron overloaded patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular assembly of carbon dots with organic luminescent small molecules can be devoted to picking up a predetermined fluorescent probe detection system for specific targets. In this work, the blue fluorescent carbon dots B-CDs were prepared by using sodium citrate and nitrogen-rich branched polyethyleneimine as precursors through a functional preservation strategy. A modularized, difunctional and ratiometric fluorescent probe B-CDs@RBH with dual-emission was dexterously prepared by simply blending B-CDs and rhodamine b-hydrazide for the detection of Hg2+ and Cu2+. B-CDs can be quenched by Hg2+ through static quenching, while Cu2+ can specifically open the lactam of rhodamine b-hydrazide to form rhodamine B through hydrolysis accompanied by a turn-on orange fluorescence. More interestingly, rhodamine B can absorb the fluorescence of B-CDs through fluorescence resonance energy transfer, resulting in a blue to orange fluorescence color change in the presence of Cu2+. B-CDs@RBH has a low detection limit of 17.79 nM and 4.19 nM for Hg2+ and Cu2+ respectively with a detection range of 0.1–5 μM, which was applied for the ratiometric fluorescence detection of Hg2+ and Cu2+ in cells and zebrafish, and achieved smartphone-assisted on-site water samples detection. The facile modular design of B-CDs@RBH fluorescent probe and convenient on-site detection application are of great benefit in further ascertaining the migration and transformation of heavy metals in biological and environmental samples. [Display omitted] • The facile modular fabrication of bifunctional FRET-type fluorescent probe by hybridizing carbon dots and fluorescent dye. • The monitoring of Hg2+ and Cu2+ in water samples, living cells and zebrafish was realized. • Smartphone-assisted on-site quantitative determination of Hg2+ and Cu2+ was realized with no expensive instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The prepared two carbon dots based on wheat straw emerge dual-function luminescence characteristics, fluorescence is used for detection of Cu2+ and RTP for information security. • The blue carbon dots of Cu2+ was prepared by one-step carbonization method, and the detection selectivity and interference performance were satisfactory. • The CDs was successfully applied to image the contents of Cu2+ in living cells and zebrafish. • CDs@IPA shows different solid fluorescent colors under different UV lamps and green visible room temperature phosphorescence to the naked eyes for 5 s. The green synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from biomass is critical for their sustainable application. Herein, using wheat straw as a single precursor, carbon dots (CDs) were prepared through a one-step carbonization process, and the obtained CDs have intense blue luminescence and excitation-independent photoluminescent behavior. The solution of CDs shows good biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity successfully used as hopeful bioimaging and biosensing probe for Cu2+ in HepG2 cells and zebrafish. Based on CDs, boron-doped carbon dots with IPA shells (CDs@IPA) can be obtained by doping boron element and isophthalic acid (IPA) coating. CDs@IPA irradiated with different wavelength ultraviolet lamps shows different solid fluorescence, while turning off the ultraviolet lamp can produce green visible room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) to the naked eyes for 5 s. The two kinds of wheat straw-based carbon dots have bifunctional luminescence properties and can be used to detect Cu2+ and serve as RTP anti-counterfeiting signs to ensure information security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important species of reactive oxygen and a commonly-used water disinfectant, hypochlorite (ClO-) has been reported to be tightly associated with oxidative stress and related diseases. Therefore, developing ClO- sensors, especially the sensors that can detect in a ratiometric fluorescent manner are highly desirable. Herein, a ClO- ratiometric fluorescent sensing platform M-CDs which can respond to ClO- rapidly and precisely was subtly constructed with a detection range of 0.1–50 μM and a low detection limit of 67 nM by simply blending the green fluorescent carbon dots (G-CDs) and red fluorescent carbon dots (R-CDs) with no complicated synthesis and surface modification. Both CDs were legitimately prepared by a functional preservation strategy, and they exhibited different ClO- reactivity due to the inheritance of functional groups and properties of different precursors. The detection mechanism was verified by Mass spectrometry, temperature-dependent fluorescence, fluorescence decay curves and 1H NMR spectra. Besides the excellent performance in water samples, the platform also enables the monitoring of ClO- in living cells and zebrafish, which indicates the sensing system pens up new horizons for the development of ratiometric fluorescent sensing. [Display omitted] • The G-CDs and R-CDs were prepared through a functional preservation strategy. • A ClO- ratiometric fluorescent sensing platform was prepared conveniently. • The detection mechanism was verified by fluorescence decay curves, Mass and 1H NMR spectra. • The monitoring of ClO- in water samples, living cells and zebrafish was realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]