A selective fluorescent sensor for imaging Cu2+ in living cells

Abstract

Copper ion is a biochemically essential yet toxic metal ion, connected to serious neurodegenerative diseases, and also has been identified as an environmental pollutant. For the effective detection of Cu2+ in biological and environmental systems, we have developed a new membrane-permeable Cu2+-selective water-soluble BODIPY 1, which was synthesized by nucleophilic disubstitution of novel 3,5-diiodo-BODIPY 4 with N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amines. BODIPY 1 shows a highly sensitive and selective fluorescence response to Cu2+ in aqueous solution. Fluorescence image experiments establish that 1 can be used to monitor intracellular Cu2+ within living cells.