A novel dual functional pyrene-based turn-on fluorescent probe for hypochlorite and copper (II) ion detection and bioimaging applications

A novel dual-function fluorescent probe PPH was conveniently synthesized by linking pyrazinehydrazide unit and pyrenyl fluorophore. The present probe PPH could be used for simultaneous detection of ClO− and Cu2+ through a fluorescence turn-on response. The probe PPH displayed excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards ClO− and Cu2+ over other anions and metal ions. The detection limits of PPH for ClO− and Cu2+ were calculated to be as low as 4.02 nM and 157 nM, respectively. The probe PPH had good pH stability and was highly responsive to ClO− and Cu2+ in a wide pH range. Furthermore, this probe could be readily applied to visualize ClO− and Cu2+ on the test paper. Additionally, this probe was successfully utilized to the fluorescence imaging of ClO− and Cu2+ in HeLa cells. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.