Dual-emissive EY/UiO-66-NH2 as a ratiometric probe for turn-on sensing and cell imaging of hypochlorite

Abstract

Hypochlorite plays a vital role in biological systems and our daily life. The rapid and convenient detection of hypochlorite is imperative and significant for disease treatment and human health. In this work, EY/UiO-66-NH₂ (EY = eosin Y) was prepared through a hydrothermal process and could be applied to the detection and bioimaging of hypochlorite as a self-calibrating sensing nanoprobe. EY/UiO-66-NH₂ features two emissions at 432 nm and 533 nm, and the emission intensity of 533 nm is enhanced with increasing ClO⁻ concentration. EY/UiO-66-NH₂ could be utilized as a ratiometric fluorescence sensor of ClO⁻. The linear range of EY/UiO-66-NH₂ towards ClO⁻ is 0.1–200 μM and its detection limit is 46.4 nM. In comparison with previously reported probes for ClO⁻, EY/UiO-66-NH₂ has the advantages of a wide linear range, low detection limit, turn-on fluorescence and ratiometric response. This work provides a new method for ClO⁻ detection in living cells.