A BODIPY-based “turn-on” fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for selective detection of Cu2+ in aqueous media and its application in cell imaging

•A new and high selective turn-on fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ in aqueous media was developed.•The detection limit for Cu2+ was found to be 25nM.•The sensor can detect trace amounts of Cu2+ in real water samples.•The sensor was successfully applied to fluorescence imaging of Cu2+ in living cells. We report a turn-on fluorescent and colorimetric sensor based on an easily prepared BODIPY derivative for selective detection of Cu2+ in aqueous media. The sensor showed effective and selective detection of Cu2+ at a low detection limit. These advantages allow for the application of sensor 1 to detect trace amounts of Cu2+ in real water samples. The sensor was successfully applied to fluorescence imaging of Cu2+ in living cells.