Switching to a “turn-on” fluorescent probe for selective monitoring of cyanide in food samples and living systems

Abstract

A fluorescent probe (TPA–BTD–MT) was designed to monitor cyanide ions (CN⁻) with a “turn-on” response, changing from “turn-off” behavior due to the structural change. TPA–BTD–MT exhibited high selectivity for sensing CN⁻ in several food samples and was successfully used for imaging CN⁻ in living cells and animals with strong “turn-on” fluorescence.