A Bright and Specific Fluorescent Sensor for Mercury in Water, Cells, and Tissue

Abstract

A bright idea: By restricting the rotation between receptor and reporter units of the fluorescent chemosensor Mercury Green 1 (MG1), a remarkably high quantum efficiency is achieved in its Hg2+-ion-bound form in water (Φ=0.72). MG1 is specific to environmentally and biologically relevant mercury levels (ppm to ppb range), and can assay levels of Hg2+ ion in living cells and in edible fish.