Amino‐functionalized perylenediimide derivative with dual fluorescence emission for the detection of ascorbic acid in vivo and in vitro

• Published in: Luminescence (Chichester, England) England), 2022-10, Vol.37 (10), p.1741-1750
• Main Authors: Zhang, Gui‐Qun, Chi, Kuan‐Neng, Yao, Chao, Yang, Tong, Zhang, Rui‐Lin, Hu, Rong, Yang, Yun‐Hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ascorbic acid; Cobalt; Cobalt oxyhydroxide; Detection; Emissions; Fluorescence; Fluorescent indicators; Oxidoreductions; perylenediimide derivative; ratiometric fluorescent probe; Redox reactions; Selectivity; Surveying; Wavelength
• ISSN: 1522-7235; 1522-7243
• DOI: 10.1002/bio.4350

The rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of ascorbic acid (AA) is of significance in medical assays and diagnostics. In this work, a new aminoperylenediimide (APDI) derived ratiometric fluorescent probe based on the specific redox reaction of cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) and AA was constructed. APDI exhibited dual fluorescence emission peaks at 549 and 596 nm with an excitation wavelength of 494 nm. In the presence of CoOOH, the dual fluorescence could be quenched. The dominant fluorescence quenching mechanism was caused by the inner filter effect. Using the red emission as a reference, the fluorescence intensity ratio (F549/F596) was linearly correlated with the concentration of AA over a range of 0.05 to 1 μM. The limit of detection for AA was found to be 17 nM. Importantly, the probe was successfully used to detect AA in living cells. Therefore, this high sensitivity and selectivity strategy could directly survey the AA levels in real samples. The two‐dimensional layered amino PDI with two emission peaks was used as the fluorophore. A rapid, simple, and low‐cost ratiometric fluorescent probe was constructed for the quantitative detection and imaging of AA in cells. The sensing system is sensitive for AA with the limit of detection of 17 nM.