Novel application of a fluorescent dye based on triphenylamine: Rapid detection of hydrazine in living cells and in vitro

Abstract

Based on the multi-functionalization of organic compounds, this work mainly presented a new application of triphenylamine-based fluorescent dye T-Probe in the rapid detection of hydrazine (N 2 H 4 ) both in vivo and in vitro. As an important organic intermediate, which displayed high selectivity and rapid response to N 2 H 4 in DMSO/PBS buffer (4/6, v/v) solution in the presence of other competitive species (such as K + , Cu 2+ , Ni 2+ , NO 2 − , NO 3 − , SCN − , S 2− , SO 4 2− , SO 3 2− , HSO 3 − , Cl − , CO 3 2− , OAc − , NH 4 + , HS − , Cys, BSA, Aniline、CH 3 NH 2 , N2H4, etc.). The sensing property for N 2 H 4 was further investigated through UV–Visible, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectrophotometric analyses as well as DFT/TD-DFT calculations. The results indicated that the target sensor T-Probe possessed high anti-interference ability, specificity, extremely detection limit (8.47 nM), especially immediate response speed (within 3 min) to N 2 H 4 , and whole detection process also could be dramatically observed through “naked-eye” fluorescence color change (from Cyan to Blue) under 365 nm UV lamp irradiation, Furthermore, 1 H NMR and fluorescence titration experiment were also conducted to confirm the sensing mechanism. In extended application aspect, the fluorescent dye T-Probe could provide a new analytical method for N 2 H 4 detection in real water samples and visualize monitoring biological samples in living cells. • Synthesis of conjugated chemo-sensor T-Probe. • T-Probe realized hydrazine detection with higher sensitivity, fast response time and lower limit of detection. • The probe was successfully applied for detection of hydrazine in real water samples and in living cells.