Nanomolar Hg(II) Detection Using Nile Blue Chemodosimeter in Biological Media

Abstract

A Nile blue-based chemodosimeter (1) was newly synthesized, and its application for detection of the Hg(2+) ion in 100% aqueous solution was demonstrated. Upon its addition into aqueous Hg(2+) ion solution, it exhibited a considerable blue-shift in its absorption and emission spectra, driven by a desulfurization reaction. Detection at an emission of 652 nm was extremely sensitive (less than 1.0 ppb), even in biological media such as blood plasma and albumin.