An unexpected fluorescent probe for G-quadruplex DNA based on a nitro-substituted ruthenium (II) complex

The detection of G-quadruplex is of major interest. Nitro-substituted ruthenium (II) complexes have attracted much attention due to fluorescent sensitivity to environment change. We report here a new nitro-substituted ruthenium (II) complex, [Ru (phen)(2)(hnoip)](2+) (1) (hnoip = 2-(2-hydroxyl-5-nitrophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10-phenanthroline]), which displays distinct fluorescent properties in aqueous solution and non-aqueous solvents. This complex exhibits large fluorescence enhancement after binding with G-quadruplex DNA, and displays good fluorescent selectivity over other DNAs. The limit of detection is 6 nm for 22AG in Na+ and 43 nm for 22AG in K+, respectively. The results demonstrated that nitro-substituted ruthenium (II) complexes can be utilized to design as G-quadruplex fluorescent probes by protection of the nitro group on the complex from water.