Naphthalimide derived fluorescent probes with turn-on response for Au3+ and the application for biological visualization

The 4-N,N-dimethyl-1,8-naphthalimide based fluorescent probes have been explored for selective detection of Au3+. Both probes show a pronounced fluorescence enhancement response to Au3+. Hydroxy is introduced as ligand of Au3+ for Probe 1 and the newly designed Probe 2 contains an alkyne moiety to recognize Au3+ through an irreversible C C bond hydrolysis reaction. Probe 1 exhibits higher performance such as faster response, lower detection limit of 0.050 mu M and the better responsive effect in 99.5% water system compared with most of probes published. The Probe 2 displays high stability to pH, suitable water solubility, wider linear range (0-100 mu M) to Au3+, and live-cells imaging with low cytotoxicity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.