A novel bola-amphiphilic-phenolphthalein sensor for switchable fluorescent detection of Hg<SUP>2+</SUP>/Cu<SUP>2+</SUP> and GSH in real water samples


Hussein A. S., LAFZİ F., Bayindir S., Toprak M.

PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, cilt.24, sa.7, ss.1173-1183, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 24 Sayı: 7
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s43630-025-00753-4
  • Dergi Adı: PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, Compendex, MEDLINE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1173-1183
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Cu2+, GSH, Hg2+, Logic gate, Phenolphthalein, Quantum yield, Turn-off
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study presents the design, synthesis, and evaluation of TSC-PP-TSC, a novel phenolphthalein-based fluorescent sensor produced via a straightforward synthetic route. The sensor demonstrates a quantum yield of 0.114 and exhibits highly selective and sensitive "turn-off" fluorescence towards Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in a 0.01/99.9 ethanol/water solution. Selectivity for these ions was further confirmed in water/ethanol (v/v: 9.9/0.1) and tap water. Upon binding with Hg-2(+) or Cu-2(+), the sensor forms a 2:1 metal-to-ligand complex, resulting in the dispersion of probe aggregates. The limits of detection (LODs) were determined to be 117 nM for Hg2+ and 1.56 mu M for Cu2+. Furthermore, the reversible interaction with I- ions and glutathione (GSH) enabled the construction of a sophisticated four-input OR-INHIBIT logic gate. Notably, the TSC-PP-TSC-Cu-2(+) complex also showed promise as a "turn-on" fluorescent sensor for GSH detection in water and the LOD was 1.80 mu M, leveraging the reversibility of the complex formation.