Chemodosimeter approach for nanomolar detection of Cu2+ ions and their bio-imaging in PC3 cell lines

Abstract

A new rhodamine–azaindole based receptor 4 has been synthesized which selectively senses Cu²⁺ ions via a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process in acetonitrile while in mixed aqueous media it undergoes Cu²⁺ promoted hydrolysis among the various metal ions tested (Pb²⁺, Ba²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺). The time resolved fluorescence studies also support the Cu²⁺ promoted hydrolysis of receptor 4 in mixed aqueous media. The detection limit for Cu²⁺ ions has been found to be 20 nM. The potential biological application of probe 4 is evaluated for in vitro detection of copper ions in prostate cancer (PC3) cell lines.