Cu2+-assisted sensing of fungicide Thiram in food, soil, and plant samples and the ratiometric detection of Hg2+ in living cells by a low cytotoxic and red emissive fluorescent sensor

Metal ions and pesticides are extensively used in many industries and agriculture. However, they cause significant environmental pollution and various adverse health effects. Therefore, the development of sensitive and selective techniques to detect them is necessary for human health and the ecosystem. In this paper, we report a novel red-emitting fluorescence probe with a large Stokes shift (∼220 nm) based on rhodamine and isophorone units. The probe shows a ratiometric fluorescence response toward Hg2+ ions; however, Cu2+ ions quench the red fluorescence signal. The decomposition of the probe-Cu2+ complex allows detection of Thiram followed by recovery of the red fluorescence signal of the probe. In addition, the probe shows a good linear response to Hg2+, Cu2+, and Thiram, with detection limits of 122.0 nM, 29.0 nM, and 72.0 nM, respectively. The practical applicability of the probe has been successfully tested in real samples. Moreover, smartphone detection and light-responsive capsule fabrication have been established, for easy and quick detection. The probe possesses very low cytotoxicity and allows visualization of Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in HeLa cells. Therefore, the present probe is expected to be an effective tool assisting in easy, quick, and reliable detection of Thiram, Hg2+, and Cu2+ ions. [Display omitted] •A red emitting fluorescent sensor (R6I) with large Stokes shift and low cytotoxicity is developed.•R6I shows fluorescence response towards Hg2+, Cu2+ and Thiram•The limits of detection are down to 122 nM for Hg2+, 29 nM for Cu2+, and 72.0 nM for Thiram•The practical performance of R6I is successively performed in the real samples•The probe is effectively applied to bioimaging Hg2+ and Cu2+ in HeLa cells