Simple Fluorescence Sensing Approach for Selective Detection of Fe(3+) Ions: Live-Cell Imaging and Logic Gate Functioning

[Image: see text] A pyrene-based fluorescent chemosensor APSB [N-(pyrene-1-ylmethylene) anthracen-2-amine] was designed and developed by a simple condensation reaction between pyrene carboxaldehyde and 2-aminoanthracene. The APSB fluorescent sensor selectively binds Fe(3+) in the presence of other metal ions. Apart from this, APSB shows high selectivity and sensitivity toward Fe(3+) ion detection. The detection limit for APSB was 1.95 nM, and the binding constant (K(b)) was obtained as 8.20 × 10(5) M(–1) in DMSO/water (95/5, v/v) medium. The fluorescence quantum yields for APSB and APSB–Fe(3+) were calculated as 0.035 and 0.573, respectively. The function of this fluorescent sensor APSB can be explained through the photo-induced electron transfer mechanism which was further proved by density functional theory studies. Finally, a live-cell image study of APSB in HeLa cells was also carried out to investigate the cell permeability of APSB and its efficiency for selective detection of Fe(3+) in living cells.