A PEGylated-rhodamine based sensor for “turn-on” fluorimetric and colorimetric detection of Hg²⁺ ions in aqueous media

Abstract

A water soluble turn-on fluorescent probe for the detection of mercury ions in purely aqueous media a has been developed by appending a water-compatible PEG-unit onto a rhodamine derivative. It has high selectivity for Hg²⁺ ions and is fairly non-toxic in intercellular studies.