A colorimetric and fluorescence turn-on probe for the detection of palladium in aqueous solution and its application in vitro and in vivo

Palladium has attracted a growing number of attention due to its widely application and environmental toxicity. Consequently, a novel colorimetric and fluorescent turn-on probe (NT-Pd) was designed for sensing of palladium. This probe was capable of detecting palladium in aqueous solution (DMSO was less than 1%, v/v). Under this mild condition, NT-Pd displayed high selectivity and sensitivity for sensing of palladium in both colorimetric and fluorescent strategy, such as low detection limit (5.30 nM) and rapid response time (within 10 min). In addition, NT-Pd was successfully applied for imaging of exogenous palladium in living cells and zebrafishes with good biocompatibility and low toxicity, indicating this probe has satisfactory application potential to track palladium in the complicated biological system. [Display omitted] •A novel colorimetric and fluorescent probe NT-Pd was constructed for detection of palladium.•The probe NT-Pd was able to detect palladium in aqueous solution.•The probe NT-Pd exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to palladium.•The probe NT-Pd could be used for imaging of palladium in living A549 cells and zebrafishes.