Detection of multiple metal ions using a single fluorophore

An easily accessible pyridine-linked anthracene-based new amphiphilic fluorescent molecule is reported as the single probe for systematic and rapid sensing of multiple metal ions at ppb level. Among several metal ions, the quenching in fluorescence intensity of the fluorophore was remarkable for Pd2+, Fe3+, Sn2+, Bi3+ and Al3+ metal ions in the 1,4-dioxane medium where Al3+ was straightaway identified with its 50% quenching. The addition of Fe3+solution to the probe produced a distinct blue shift in the absorption spectrum under UV-Visible spectroscopy. Further, the probe could discriminate rest of the three metal ions Pd2+, Sn2+ and Bi3+ by using surfactant led assemblies like micelles and niosomes. In anionic micelles (SDS), the probe could selectively detect Bi3+ ion. The differentiation between Pd2+ and Sn2+ was achieved by recording their emission spectra in neutral Tween 20 micelles and span-80 niosomes, where the probe showed dramatic quenching only with Pd2+. Finally, the sensor was successfully utilized to capture the image of cervical cancer (HeLa) cells facilitating intracellular detection of Pd2+.