Publication
A reversible, reaction-based sensor for biol. mobile zinc was designed, prepd., and characterized. The sensing mechanism of this probe is based on the zinc-induced, ring-opening reaction of spirobenzopyran to give a cyanine fluorophore that emits in the deep-red region of the electromagnetic spectrum. This probe is not activated by protons and operates efficiently in aq. soln. at pH 7 and high ionic strength. The mechanism of this reaction was studied by using a combination of kinetics expts. and DFT calcns. The biocompatibility of the probe was demonstrated in live HeLa cells.
Nicola Marzari, Francesco Nattino