An ESIPT-Based Fluorescent Probe for Aqueous Cu(+) Detection through Strip, Nanofiber and Living Cells

Constructed on the benzothiazole-oxanthracene structure, a fluorescent probe RBg for Cu(+) was designed under the ESIPT mechanism and synthesized by incorporating amide bonds as the connecting group and glyoxal as the identifying group. Optical properties revealed a good sensitivity and a good linear relationship of the probe RBg with Cu(+) in the concentration range of [Cu(+)] = 0–5.0 μmol L(−1). Ion competition and fluorescence-pH/time stability experiments offered further possibilities for dynamic Cu(+) detection in an aqueous environment. HRMS analysis revealed a possible 1:1 combination of RBg and Cu(+). In addition, colorimetric Cu(+) detection and lysosome-targeted properties of the probe RBg were analyzed through RBg-doped PVDF nanofiber/test strips and RBg-Mito/Lyso trackers that were co-stained in living HeLa cells, enabling the probe’s future applications as real-time detection methods for dynamic Cu(+) tracking in the lysosomes and Cu(+) detection under diversified conditions.