An aggregation-induced emission-based ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for Hg(II) and its application in Caenorhabditis elegans imaging

K Ramki; G Thiruppathi; Selva Kumar Ramasamy; P Sundararaj; P Sakthivel

doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2023.11.010

An aggregation-induced emission-based ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for Hg(II) and its application in Caenorhabditis elegans imaging

Methods. 2024 Jan:221:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2023.11.010. Epub 2023 Nov 22.

Authors

K Ramki¹, G Thiruppathi², Selva Kumar Ramasamy³, P Sundararaj², P Sakthivel⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Immunology, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625 021, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: ramki12pgc17@gmail.com.
² Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
³ Department of Chemistry, M.M. Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133 207, Haryana, India.
⁴ Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: sakthivel.p@buc.edu.in.

PMID: 38000523
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2023.11.010

Abstract

A chromone-based ratiometric fluorescent probe L2 was developed for the selective detection of Hg(II) in a semi-aqueous solution based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect. The probe L2 fluoresced significantly at 498 nm in its aggregated state, and when chelated with Hg(II), the soluble state fluoresced 1-fold higher. In addition, Job's plot reveals that the probe forms a 1:1 stoichiometry complex with Hg(II) with an association constant of 9.10 × 10³M^-1 estimated by the BH plot. The probe L2 detects Hg(II) down to 22.47 nM without interference from other interfering ions. The FTIR, ESI mass, and DFT-based computational studies investigated the binding mechanism of probe L2 with Hg(II). Taking advantage of its AIE characteristics, the probe L2 was successfully applied for bio-capability analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans (a nematode worm) imaging of Hg(II) in a living model.

Keywords: Bioimaging; Caenorhabditis elegans; Chemosensor; Fluorescence; Mercury; Ratiometric.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans*
Fluorescent Dyes
Mercury* / analysis
Optical Imaging / methods
Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

Mercury
Fluorescent Dyes

Grants and funding

P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/United States