Fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for detection of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions.

Exposure to even very low levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions is known to cause neurological, reproductive, cardiovascular, and developmental disorders, which are more serious problems for children particularly. Accordingly, great efforts have been devoted to the development of fluorescent and colorimetric sensors, which can selectively detect lead, cadmium, and mercury ions. In this critical review, the fluorescent and colorimetric sensors are classified according to their receptors into several categories, including small molecule based sensors, calixarene based chemosensors, BODIPY based chemosensors, polymer based chemosensors, DNA functionalized sensing systems, protein based sensing systems and nanoparticle based sensing systems (197 references).

Bis- and tris-naphthoimidazolium derivatives for the fluorescent recognition of ATP and GTP in 100% aqueous solution.

Naphthoimidazolium groups can form unique ionic hydrogen bonds with anions as imidazolium moieties, and in addition, they are fluorescent, so no further elaborative synthesis is needed to introduce a fluorescent group. In this paper, three naphthoimidazolium derivatives were synthesized and studied for the recognition of nucleotides. Compound 1 composed of a single naphthoimidazolium group and quaternary ammonium group did not show any significant fluorescent changes with various anions and nucleotides, such as ATP, GTP, CTP, TTP, UTP, ADP and AMP.

Visual detection of dopamine and monitoring tyrosinase activity using a pyrocatechol violet-Sn4+ complex.

In this study, the ensemble of pyrocatechol violet and Sn(4+) was used for dopamine detection in a neutral aqueous solution with high selectivity and sensitivity. The detection course showed three color changes, which could be observed by the naked eye. We also demonstrated that this ensemble can be used to monitor tyrosinase activity.

Recent progress in fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for detection of amino acids.

Due to the biological importance of amino acids, the development of optical probes for these molecules has been an active research area in recent years. This tutorial review focuses on recent contributions since the year 2000 concerning the fluorescent or colorimetric sensors for amino acids, and is organized according to their structural classification and reaction types. For reaction based chemosensors, the works are classified according to the mechanisms between sensors and amino acids, including imine formation, Michael addition, thiazinane or thiazolidine formation, cleavage of a sulfonate ester, cleavage of disulfide, metal complexes-displace coordination and others.

In vivo fluorescence imaging of bacteriogenic cyanide in the lungs of live mice infected with cystic fibrosis pathogens.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), commonly found in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, often produce cyanide (CN), which inhibits cellular respiration. CN in sputa is a potential biomarker for lung infection by CF pathogens. However, its actual concentration in the infected lungs is unknown.

Fluorescent and luminescent probes for detection of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Oxidative and nitrosative stress induced by ROS/RNS play crucial roles in a wide range of physiological processes and are also implicated in various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Sensitive and selective methods for the detection of ROS/RNS based on fluorescent and luminescent probes are of great use in monitoring the in vivo production of these species and elucidating their biological functions. This critical review highlights recent advances that have been made in the development of fluorescent and luminescent probes employed to monitor various ROS/RNS (132 references).

Base pair opening kinetics study of the aegPNA:DNA hydrid duplex containing a site-specific GNA-like chiral PNA monomer.

Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are one of the most widely used synthetic DNA mimics where the four bases are attached to a N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (aeg) backbone instead of the negative-charged phosphate backbone in DNA. We have developed a chimeric PNA (chiPNA), in which a chiral GNA-like γ(3)T monomer is incorporated into aegPNA backbone. The base pair opening kinetics of the aegPNA:DNA and chiPNA:DNA hybrid duplexes were studied by NMR hydrogen exchange experiments.

A dual-polymer electrochromic device with high coloration efficiency and fast response time: poly(3,4-(1,4-butylene-(2-ene)dioxy)thiophene)-polyaniline ECD.

A new dual-polymer electrochromic device (ECD) composed of poly(3,4-(1,4-butylene-(2-ene)dioxy)thiophene) (PBueDOT) and polyaniline (PANI) with a hydrophobic molten salt electrolyte has been developed. To build this system, an alkylenedioxy ring in the BueDOT backbone was expanded to include a strongly electron-donating alkylenedioxy bridge, and the thickness and surface morphology of the corresponding PBueDOT film were controlled systematically. Not only the dual-electrochromic-polymer-electrode system, but also the expanded alkylenedioxy ring in the BueDOT backbone, synergistically improved the electrochromic performance.

A novel supermolecular tetrameric vanadate-selective colorimetric and "off-on" sensor with pyrene ligand.

Tris(2-((ethylimino)methyl)pyren-1-ol)amine (1) was synthesized and introduced as the first tetrameric vanadate fluorescence sensor, the entire binding of which was successfully accomplished in two steps with distinct colorimetric changes and "off-on" fluorescent enhancement.

Fluorescent sensing and discrimination of ATP and ADP based on a unique sandwich assembly of pyrene-adenine-pyrene.

It is still a challenging task to discriminate adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) from various nucleoside triphosphates, such as GTP, CTP, UTP, and TTP. The ability to distinguish ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) by fluorescent signals is also urgently desired. Herein, we report two pyrene-based zinc complexes as nucleoside polyphosphate receptors with high selectivity for ATP and ADP based on fluorescence and NMR studies.

Fluorescent sensing of triphosphate nucleotides via anthracene derivatives.

A nucleotide is composed of a nucleobase, a five-carbon sugar, and phosphate groups. Recognition of these three sites can provide useful information for the development of selective fluorescent receptors for a specific nucleotide. In this paper, anthracene derivatives with two imidazolium groups at the 1,8- and 9,10-positions, quaternary ammonium groups, or the boronic acid group were examined for the recognition of nucleotides, such as ATP, GTP, CTP, TTP, UTP, ADP, and AMP, via fluorescence changes.

Recent progress in fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for detection of precious metal ions (silver, gold and platinum ions).

Due to the wide range of applications and biological significance, the development of optical probes for silver, gold and platinum ions has been an active research area in the past few years. This tutorial review focuses on the recent contributions concerning the fluorescent or colorimetric sensors for these metal ions, and is organized according to their structural classifications (for Ag(+) detection) and unique mechanisms between the sensors and metal ions (for Au(3+) and Pt(2+) detection).

p53 codon 72 polymorphism in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer in a Korean population.

Background: The common p53 codon 72 polymorphism has been investigated as a risk factor for cancer in different populations; however, the results have been inconsistent. This study investigated the risk of developing gastric or colorectal cancer associated with the p53 codon 72 polymorphism in a Korean population.

Methods: We conducted a large-scale case-control study that included 2,213 gastric cancer patients; 1,829 colorectal cancer patients; and 1,700 healthy controls.

A dual colorimetric and fluorometric sensor for lead ion based on conjugated polydiacetylenes.

A PDA based sensor, derived from a di-(2-picolyl) amine (DPA) substituted diacetylene monomer, displayed a selective colorimetric change and a large fluorescence enhancement in the presence of lead ions. The lead selective PDA-based chemosensor enabled easy detection of the presence of lead in 100% aqueous solution by the naked-eye.

A specific and sensitive method for detection of hypochlorous acid for the imaging of microbe-induced HOCl production.

A specific and sensitive fluorescence-based method was developed for the imaging of microbe-induced HOCl production. Furthermore, we demonstrate dual oxidase (DUOX)-mediated HOCl generation in the mucosa of live animals providing a novel insight into mucosal innate immunity.

Unique X-ray sheet structure of 1,8-bis(imidazolium) anthracene and its application as a fluorescent probe for DNA and DNase.

A new imidazolium anthracene derivative 1 was synthesized, and its unique X-ray crystal structure was examined. In aqueous solutions, probe 1 exhibited a selective fluorescent quenching effect only with DNA among various anions including the nucleotides investigated. This probe was further applied to monitor the activity of DNase.

Fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for detection of nucleotides, FAD and NADH: highlighted research during 2004-2010.

Due to the biological importance of nucleotides and related species, such as XNP (where X = adenosine (A), uridine (U), cytidine (C), guanosine (G), and N = mono, di, tri), FAD and NADH, the development of optical probes for these molecules has recently been an active area of research. This tutorial review focuses on the contributions between 2004-2010 concerning the fluorescent or colorimetric sensors for these biomolecules, and is organized according to their target molecule's structural classification.

Ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for silver ion at physiological pH.

Bis-pyrene derivative 1, bearing two pyrene and pyridine groups, was synthesized as a ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for Ag(+) in aqueous solution. Fluorescent chemosensor 1 displayed a selective ratiometric change with Ag(+), which was attributed to the excimer-monomer emissions of pyrenes. A mechanism for the binding mode was proposed based on fluorescence changes, NMR experiments, and theoretical calculations.

Induction-driven stabilization of the anion-π interaction in electron-rich aromatics as the key to fluoride inclusion in imidazolium-cage receptors.

Intermolecular interactions that involve aromatic rings are key processes in both chemical and biological recognition. It is common knowledge that the existence of anion-π interactions between anions and electron-deficient (π-acidic) aromatics indicates that electron-rich (π-basic) aromatics are expected to be repulsive to anions due to their electron-donating character. Here we report the first concrete theoretical and experimental evidence of the anion-π interaction between electron-rich alkylbenzene rings and a fluoride ion in CH(3)CN.

Rhodamine hydrazone derivatives as Hg2+ selective fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors and their applications to bioimaging and microfluidic system.

In this paper, we report new rhodamine hydrazone derivatives bearing thiol and carboxylic acid groups as selective fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for Hg(2+). The ring-opening process of spirolactam enables the large fluorescent enhancement and colorimetric change upon the addition of Hg(2+). The sample containing Hg(2+) was mixed with one of the chemosensors in a microchannel where the sensor was examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Zebrafish as a good vertebrate model for molecular imaging using fluorescent probes.

Fluorescent probes have been used extensively to monitor biomolecules and biologically relevant species in vitro and in vivo. A new trend in this area that has been stimulated by the desire to obtain more detailed information about the biological effects of analytes is the change from live cell to whole animal fluorescent imaging. Zebrafish has received great attention for live vertebrate imaging due to several noticeable advantages.

Studies leading to the development of a highly selective colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for lysine.

A unique colorimetric change of 1, a pyrene based sensor, from light yellow to pink takes place only in the presence of lysine not other tested naturally occurring α-amino acids.

Recent progress on polymer-based fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors.

Recently, fluorescent or colorimetric chemosensors based on polymers have attracted great attention due to several important advantages, such as their simplicity of use, signal amplification, easy fabrication into devices, and combination of different outputs, etc. This tutorial review will cover polymer-based optical chemosensors from 2007 to 2010.

A near-infrared fluorescent sensor for detection of cyanide in aqueous solution and its application for bioimaging.

A new NIR fluorescent sensor based on an amine-substituted heptamethine cyanine dye displayed a highly selective fluorescence enhancement with cyanide in aqueous solutions, and was applied for the imaging of anthropogenic and biogenic cyanide.