A Sensitive Probe for Detection of Ca2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ Based on Schiff Base Derivative and Application in Bioimaging

A novel probe L based on Schift base derivative was synthesized and characterized by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, HRMS and FT-IR spectroscopy. The interaction of this probe L with Ca2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ was investigated by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra systematically. The results showed that L exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity toward Ca2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions over a wide range of metal ions and anions in ethanol and Tris-HCl ( pH 7.4 , 9:1 , V/V) buffer solution. Meanwhile, L responded these three analytes with unique absorbance enhancement at 335 nm for Cu2+ and distinct fluorescent turned on signal changes at 512 nm and 486 for Ca2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The detection limits of L for Ca2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions were 9.00 x10(-7) moUL , 9. 23 x 10(-7) mol/L and 5. 14 x10(-7) moUL , respectively. In additional, L was also successfully used to detect Ca2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ in the samples ( drug, water and serum samples) with satisfactory results. Notably , the L was successfully applied to imaging of Ca2+ and Zn(2+ )in HepG2 cells , zebra fish and living mice, which indicated that L had great potential in detection of Ca2+ and Zn2+ in vitro and in vivo.