Highly selective fluorescence detection of Cu2+ based on Schiff base functionalized Periodic Mesoiporous Organosilicas.

Abstract

A novel copper ion sensing periodic mesoporous organosilica (SCN-PMO) was obtained by incorporating Schiff base-based fluorescent receptor into the pore walls of the mesoporous silica, which exhibited well-ordered mesoporous structure and excellent optical properties according to various characterization results. The SCN-PMO possessed high selectivity and sensitivity toward Cu2+ based on the specific fluorescence response. The detection limit of SCN-PMO could be as low as 6.7×10-7 M. Owing to protection of the silica network, SCN chromophores in PMOs exhibited higher photostability and the resulting material possessed great repeatability. Additionally, the fluorescence changes of SCN-PMO toward copper ion in vivo (zebrafish) demonstrated that SCN-PMO has potential application as a nanoprobe in biological fields.