A basket-type fluorescent sensor based calixazacrown ether for multi-analytes: Practicability in living cells and real sample

Abstract A basket-type fluorescent calix [4] azacrown ether derivative (C [4] azacrown) was conceived and prepared to starting from NBD-chloride (4-chloro-7-nitro-benzofurazan), as a selective turn-off sensor of multi-analytes. The sensor designed as both an useful basket macrocycle and a fluorescent material was characterized by several techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy, elemental analysis, NMR, FT-IR, and. The optical properties of sensor C [4] azacrown developed for multi-analytes were examined in the presence of anions and cations such as Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Cr3+, Ag+, Al3+, and F-, Br-, Cl-, H2PO4-, I-, PO43-, SO42-, HSO 4 -, CH3COO-, NO3- and several ion/sensor ratios. Nano-basket fluorescent molecule, C [4] azacrown, has a fluorescence response with “on–off” mechanism towards CH3COO-, F- anions and Cu2+ cation with clear selectivity in aqueous medium (H2O/CH3CN 1/4, v/v). The fluorescence properties of C [4] azacrown was also demonstrated by using a confocal microscope in the human lung cancer cell line (A549). It was observed that the fluorescence intensity of the basket sensor quenched clearly in cells performed with Cu2+ ion, CH3COO-, and F- ions, respectively. Moreover, the detection of CH3COO-, F- and Cu2+ ions were performed in grape juice as a food sample. As a result, the basket-type macrocycle, C [4] azacrown, may be performed to recognize Cu2+, CH3COO- and F- ions in living cells and real samples.