A new rhodamine B-based ‘off-on’ colorimetric chemosensor for Pd2+ and its imaging in living cells.

Graphical abstract Highlights • RBPTA is used as a chemosensor for selective and quantitative detection of palladium with a quite low limitation as 4.22 nM. • RBPTA is highly selective to palladium without interference from other cations. • RBPTA displays quick response (20 min) toward palladium. • RBPTA can be utilized as a fluorescent probe for the detection of palladium in living cells (HeLa cells). • RBPTA can be made as a test paper to ration detect for palladium. Abstract A colorimetric rhodamine-based fluorescent probe RBPTA has been designed to detect Pd2+ under mild condition (pH > 4) in aquenous solution and living HeLa cells. The probe displays high sensitivity (DL 4.2 nM), selectivity and quick response (20 min) toward Pd2+, driven by a PET process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]