Novel indoleoxazine derivative cyanide ion probe: Detection applications and cell-imaging studies

•ZBO was proposed as a highly sensitive CN−probe by UV differential spectroscopy.•The minimum detection concentration of the probe was 0.1 μM.•The test strip can be used to qualitatively identify CN−.•ZBO can be used to detection of cyanide in actual samples and cell imaging study. A colorimetric fluorescence probe 1-nitro-(8-ethylene-11- (14-diethylaminophenyl)-benzoindo oxazine (ZBO) based on indoleoxazine structure was prepared for detection of cyanide ions (CN−). The introduction of UV difference spectroscopy provides a guarantee for the accuracy of CN− detection. Results indicate that ZBO can achieve the desired recognition of CN− with excellent anti-interference performance. The minimum detection concentration of CN− is 0.1 μM. For practical applications, ZBO test strips were prepared for the convenient and qualitative detection of CN−. The low-concentration solution of ZBO can facilitate the qualitative detection of CN− in peach kernel, loquat seed, and cassava samples. In addition, low cytotoxicity and cell imaging experiments suggested that ZBO can be used for detect CN− in living cells. A solvent-induced ring-opening response CN− probe (ZBO) with indoxazine parent structure was synthesized based on the nucleophilic addition mechanism. The introduction of UV difference spectroscopy realize high sensitivity detection of CN−. ZBO transforms from a closed-loop structure to an open-loop structure in ethanol buffer solution. After joining the CN−, the pro-nuclear addition reaction took place with ZBO, and ZBO's conjugate system was destroyed, the solution color from purple to light yellow, which is useful for visual detection. Applications of ZBO including: 1. The developed test strip can achieve the qualitative identification of CN−. 2. The probe can identify cyanide in actual samples. 3. The fluorescence imaging detection of CN− in living HeLa cells. [Display omitted]