Mitochondria-targeted dual-channel colorimetric and fluorescence chemosensor for detection of Sn2+ ions in aqueous solution based on aggregation-induced emission and its bioimaging applications

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2021-08, Vol.415, p.125593-125593, Article 125593
• Main Authors: Ravichandiran, Palanisamy, Prabakaran, D.S., Maroli, Nikhil, Boguszewska-Czubara, Anna, Masłyk, Maciej, Kim, Ae Rhan, Kolandaivel, Ponmalai, Ramalingam, Prakash, Park, Byung-Hyun, Han, Myung-Kwan, Ramesh, Thiyagarajan, Yoo, Dong Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellular colocalization; Nanomolar; Quinone; Sensor probe; Zebrafish larvae imaging
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125593

Several fluorescence and colorimetric chemosensory for Sn2+ detection in an aqueous media have been reported, but applications remain limited for discriminative Sn2+ detection in live human cells and zebrafish larvae. Herein, a mitochondria-targeted Sn2+ “turn-on” colorimetric and fluorescence chemosensor, 2CTA, with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) response was developed. The sensing of Sn2+ was enabled by a reduction-enabled binding pathway, with the conversion of –C˭O groups to –C–OH groups at the naphthoquinone moiety. The color changed from light maroon to milky white in a buffered aqueous solution. The chemosensor 2CTA possessed the excellent characteristics of good water solubility, fast response (less than 10 s), and high sensitivity (79 nM) and selectivity for Sn2+ over other metal ions, amino acids, and peptides. The proposed binding mechanism was experimentally verified by means of FT-IR and NMR studies. The chemosensor 2CTA was successfully employed to recognize Sn2+ in live human cells and in zebrafish larvae. In addition, a colocalization study proved that the chemosensor had the ability to target mitochondria and overlapped almost completely with MitoTracker Red. Furthermore, a bioimaging study of live cells demonstrated the discriminative detection of Sn2+ in human cancer cells and the practical applications of 2CTA in biological systems. [Display omitted] •A mitochondria-targeted colorimetric/fluorescence chemosensor 2CTA was developed.•2CTA showed excellent sensitivity to Sn2+ at a nanomolar level (79 nM).•2CTA discriminatively detected Sn2+ in cancer cells than the normal live cells.•The probe was used as a mitochondria-targeted fluorescent marker.•The probe was used for the tracking of Sn2+ in live cells and zebrafish.