A Portable Zn Fluorescence Sensor for Information Storage and Bio-Imaging in Living Cells.

A fluorescence probe (Probe-ITR) was designed and synthesized for the rapid detection of Zn based on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism. The specific recognition ability of Probe-ITR to Zn was tested using UV-VIS and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. The results demonstrated a rapid response within 40s upon addition of an appropriate amount of Zn into the mixed solution of the target probe molecules (DMSO/PBS = 5/5).