A highly selective barbiturate-based fluorescent probe for detecting Hg2+ in cells and zebrafish as well as in real water samples

Abstract

As a kind of heavy metal ions, mercury ions (Hg2+) have important effects on ecological environment and human health. Since Hg2+ interact with mercaptan molecules in the living body, they gather in the living body and endanger health or even life, so the detection of Hg2+ is indispensable. In this research, taking advantage of thymine moiety as a specific ligand for chelating with Hg2+, a new type of “T-Hg-T” fluorescent probe BC-Hg was designed and synthesized to specially detect Hg2+ in real water samples and living systems. The barbituric acid unit in the probe can react with Hg2+ and then deprotonate to form polymer and precipitate. Probe BC-Hg has a rapid response to the detection of Hg2+ and strong anti-interference ability. It has a good linear detection of Hg2+ in the range of 0–1.5 µM, so it can quantitatively detect Hg2+ within a certain concentration range. Probe BC-Hg has obvious “naked eye” colorimetric effect and can be used to determine the generation of Hg2+ polymer by the Tyndall effect. In addition, probe BC-Hg can also be used to detect Hg2+ in real water samples, cells, and zebrafish. Therefore, the probe can serve as an effective tool for detecting Hg2+ in environment and organisms.