Biocompatibility evaluation and imaging application of a new fluorescent chemodosimeter for the specific detection of mercury ions in environmental and biological samples

Abstract

Mercury is widely distributed in the natural environment and living environment, and as a heavy metal element with significant toxicity mercury ions pose a threat to agriculture and the food chain, thus consequently the residue and bioaccumulation of mercury ions will cause numerous and serious diseases, such as neurological abnormalities, gingivitis and tremor. Therefore, the development of a responsive and accurate fluorescent probe or sensor with excellent biocompatibility for mercury ions is crucial and marketable in the health and environmental protection. In this study, a novel fluorescent probe named BE-Hg has been innovatively proposed for the dynamic monitor of mercury ions. The probe showed excellent spectral performance in vitro experiments with detection limit as low as 1.18 nM, while it was applied to monitor environmental water samples with recovery as high as 93 %. Moreover, our group evaluated the probe safety using fluorescence-labeled tissue, organ and organ system including liver, heart, blood vessel and immune system in zebrafish for the first time. Note that the probe is proved with good biocompatibility by the cytotoxicity test, behavioral test, hepatotoxicity test, cardiotoxicity test, blood vessel toxicity test and immunotoxicity test with 15 indicators. In addition, the probe owns the ability to detect Hg2+ in live cells and zebrafish models. Thus it is expected to be a tool for the detection of mercury ions in water environments and organisms. In addition, behavioral test, hepatotoxicity test, cardiotoxicity test, blood vessel toxicity test and immunotoxicity test can be used to evaluate the biocompatibility of fluorescent probe, which provide a reliable safeguard for the research and development of probe.