Multifunctional phthalocyanine NIR sensor for fluorescent and colorimetric dual-imaging and removal of intracellular and environmental Cu2+.

[Display omitted] • NIR sensor for high-sensitive and selective detection and removal Cu2+ in living cells and environment. • Phthalocyanine based dual fluorescence and colorimetric sensor. • NIR fluorescence and colorimetric changes through cis- / trans interconversion. • Binding mechanism towards Cu2+were systematically revealed. Cu2+ sensing and removal are of great significance for environment protection and human health. Herein, multifunctional Cu2+ sensor system for both detection and removal of intracellular and environmental Cu2+ based on trans/cis interconversion of silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc) was developed. This phthalocyanine based Cu2+ sensor shows remarkably dual-mode NIR fluorescence and colorimetric responses for recognition of Cu2+, resulting in insoluble chelate for Cu2+ removal as well as the extremely high anti-interference in the presence of various anions and cations. The binding mechanism and stoichiometry ratio were systematically revealed. Intracellular fluorescence imaging in MCF-7 cells demonstrated that Cu2+ could be efficiently detected in living cells and form insoluble chelate for clearance. As the result, this novel phthalocyanine based multifunctional sensor can be used for dual-mode NIR fluorescence/colorimetric detection and removal of Cu2+ in either complicated environment or biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]