A fluorescent Salamo-Salen-Salamo-Zn(II) sensor for bioimaging and biosensing H2PO4- in Zebrafish and plants.

A novel Salamo-Salen-Salamo-Zn(II) complex fluorescent sensor ZT was successfully synthesized, and exhibited fluorescent quenching effect and excellent applicability through solid-state fluorescent strips and biological imaging experiments on zebrafish and bean sprout to highly sensitive monitoring H 2 PO 4 - ions. [Display omitted] • A novel and effective Salamo-Salen-Salamo-Zn fluorescent sensor ZT was successfully developed. • It is worth noting that ZT serves as a fluorescence ON-OFF sensor by adding H 2 PO 4 - in the presence of excess other anions. • The sensor ZT was successfully studied using the solid-state fluorescence of the test strips. • Bioimaging experiments were conducted on zebrafish and bean sprouts using a confocal microscope. A newly designed and synthesized Salamo-Salen-Salamo-Zn(II) complex sensor (sensor ZT) was extensively explored for anion sensing studies. The selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor ZT towards H 2 PO 4 - ions were based on ICT and CHEF effects, and via displacement pathways in DMSO/H 2 O (9:1, v/v) medium in the presence of other anions like, PO 4 3-, HPO 4 2- and P 2 O 7 4- in a short time, separately. The prepared ZT sensor has excellent association constant and low detection lines. The sensing mechanism and binding mode of the sensor were studied by UV–Vis spectroscopy, HR-MS, 1H NMR titration and theory calculations (DFT & TD-DFT) for analytes. The time response and stability of the sensor are also given. Meanwhile, the sensor ZT can be widely used as a simple and effective solid-state optical sensor to detect H 2 PO 4 - by intuitive fluorescence changes. In addition, besides the environment can be used as a powerful instrument for detecting H 2 PO 4 -, based on the good biocompatibility and tissue permeability of ZT , effectively monitoring H 2 PO 4 - in cellular distribution by confocal microscopy using Zebrafish and bean sprout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]