A new peptide-based fluorescent probe for highly selective and sensitive detection of zinc (II) and application in real samples and cells imaging.

• A new peptide-based fluorescent probe DCH was synthesized. • DCH exhibited high sensitivity to Zn2+, with detection limits of 30.49 nM. • DCH was utilized for detecting Zn2+ in two real samples with high reliability. • DCH was low toxicity and could be used to monitor Zn2+ in two living cells. Zinc (Zn2+) ions play a very important role in the environment and organisms, and it is of great significance to realize the high sensitivity and selectivity detection of Zn2+ ions. Herein, a new peptide-based fluorescent probe named DCH was rationally designed and synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis with Fmoc chemistry. DCH exhibited excellent fluorescent "turn-on" responding to Zn2+ with highly selective and exhilaratingly sensitive in aqueous media, with detection limits (LOD) as low as 30.49 nM. ESI-MS, Job's plot curves and fluorescence titration results indicated that the stoichiometric ratio between DCH and Zn2+ was 2:1. DCH could be regenerated by adding EDTA solutions to the complex formed during interaction, and indicated that DCH was promising reversibility probe. Furthermore, DCH has excellent practical application potential through two actual water sample experiments. Importantly, DCH was successfully used in monitor cellular Zn2+ and EDTA in living HK2 cells and SV-HUC-1 cells based on good biocompatibility and exciting low toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]