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Highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for copper (II) based on amplified fluorescence quenching of a water-soluble NIR emitting conjugated polymer

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Abstract

We have synthesized the near-infrared water-soluble conjugated polymer poly[2,5-di(propyloxysulfonate)-1,4-phenylene-ethynylene-9,10-anthrylene (referred to as PPEASO3). Its fluorescence (at wavelengths between 650 and 800 nm following photoexcitation at 550 nm) is efficiently quenched by Cu(II) ions, while other physiologically relevant metal ions do not cause significant quenching at the same concentrations. Under optimum conditions, fluorescence intensity is inversely proportional to the concentration of Cu (II). The calibration curve displays two linear regions over the range of 0–3.2 × 10−7 mol L−1 and 3.2 × 10−7 mol L−1 to 1.0 × 10−4 mol L−1 of Cu(II), respectively. The long-wavelength excitation and emission can substantially reduce interferences by the autofluorescence and light scattering of biological matter under UV excitation. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cu(II) in synthetic and tea samples.

Highly sensitive fluorescent sensor with low background interference was successfully applied to the determination of Cu (II) in synthetic and real samples, based on amplified fluorescence quenching of a water-soluble NIR emitting conjugated polymer.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20875003) and the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (No. 070416239).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anhui Key Laboratory of Chemo-Biosensing, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, People’s Republic of China

    Lilin Sun, Dan Hao, Weili Shen, Zhangsheng Qian & Changqing Zhu

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  1. Lilin Sun
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  2. Dan Hao
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  3. Weili Shen
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Correspondence to Changqing Zhu.

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Sun, L., Hao, D., Shen, W. et al. Highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for copper (II) based on amplified fluorescence quenching of a water-soluble NIR emitting conjugated polymer. Microchim Acta 177, 357–364 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-012-0781-x

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