Development of a Water-Soluble Fluorescent Probe Based on Natural Flavylium for Mercury(II) Ion Detection and Clinical Antidote Evaluation
Xiang Cheng, Bin Feng, Fei Chen, Shuai Huang, Shengwang Zhang, Feng Gao, Wenbin Zeng
Abstract
The health hazard posed by Hg 2+ makes it imperative to develop a fast and convenient means for detecting Hg 2+ in water samples and living objects. While fluorescence sensing technology is considered a promising candidate, the poor water solubility and fluorescence quenching in aqueous solutions of most existing probes limit their practical application. To overcome this, we developed a natural flavylium-inspired fluorescent probe with excellent water solubility. Our probe demonstrated outstanding performance of high sensitivity (LOD = 0.47 nM), fast response (<10 min), and great selectivity for Hg 2+ . Notably, we validated its applicability in real water, urine samples, and living cells. Furthermore, the probe was successfully applied to evaluate the effectiveness of antidotes for clinical Hg 2+ poisoning.