A FRET-based dual-channel turn-on fluorescence probe for the detection of Hg2+ in living cells

Abstract Since the mercury ions are particularly toxic and they can cause severe harmful effects even at low concentration, searching for selective and sensitive probe to detect Hg 2+ is of considerable significance. In this study, Rhodamine-naphthalimide conjugate (NRT) has been developed as a novel lysosome-targeted ratiometric Hg 2+ probe. NRT exhibited colorimetric and dual-channel turn-on fluorescence responses toward Hg 2+ and could be used to quantify the ion spiked in river water samples. Besides, the probe could also selectively stain lysosomes and sensitively visualize mercury ions in living cells by dual-channel imaging.