Probing chromium(III) from chromium(VI) in cells by a fluorescent sensor

Abstract Cellular uptake of Cr(VI), followed by its reduction to Cr(III) with the formation of kinetically inert Cr(III) complexes, is a complex process. To better understand its physiological and pathological functions, efficient methods for the monitoring of Cr(VI) are desired. In this paper a selective fluorescent probe L , rhodamine hydrazide bearing a benzo[b]furan-2-carboxaldehyde group, was demonstrated as a red chemosensor for Cr(III) at about 586 nm. This probe has been used to probe Cr(III) which is reduced from Cr(VI) by reductants such as glutathione (GSH), vitamin C, cysteine (Cys), H 2 O 2 and Dithiothreitol (DTT) by fluorescence spectra. Cr(VI) metabolism in vivo is primarily driven by Vc and GSH. Vc could reduce CrO 4 2 − to Cr(III) in a faster rate than GSH. The indirectly detection limit for Cr(VI) by L  + GSH system was determined to be 0.06 μM at pH = 6.2. Moreover, the confocal microscopy image experiments indicated that Cr(VI) can be reduced to Cr(III) inside cells rapidly and the resulted Cr(III) can be captured and imaged timely by L .