ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

A simple fluorescent pH probe and its application in cells

Jian-bin Chao, Ming Li, Yong-bin Zhang, Cai-xia Yin, and Fang-jun Huo

Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China

E-mail: chao@sxu.edu.cn

Abstract: It is very important to measure the pH in the cells because abnormal pH in the body can cause many neurological diseases. In this work, a simple emission fluorescent pH probe 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-1-((pyren-3-yl) methylene) hydrazine (BMH) was synthesized by connecting pyrene-1-carboxaldehyde and 2-hydrazinobenzothiazole. BMH displayed fluorescence emission characteristics in which the pK_a was 3.49 and responded linearly to measure pH range from 4.70 to 3.16. Meanwhile, it possessed high fluorescence quantum yield (64.60%). Moreover, BMH exhibited good stability and highly selectivity which promotes its ability in analytical application and the detection limit of approach was 0.41 μΜ. Simultaneously, it was fully able to image pH fluctuations due to its cell membrane permeability, biocompatibility and no auto-fluorescence effects.

Keywords: pH probe ; Fluorescence characteristics ; Large stokes shift ; Image pH fluctuations 

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00699-9

Chemical Papers 73 (6) 1481–1488 (2019)