Recent Advances in Fluorescent Probes for Zinc Ions Based on Various Response Mechanisms

Abstract

Zinc is a vital metal element with extensive applications in various fields such as industry, metallurgy, agriculture, food, and healthcare. For living organisms, zinc ions are indispensable, and their deficiency can lead to physiological and metabolic abnormalities that cause multiple diseases. Hence, there is a significant need for selective recognition and effective detection of free zinc ions. As a probe method with high sensitivity, high selectivity, real-time monitoring, safety, harmlessness and ease of operation, fluorescent probes have been widely used in metal ion identification studies, and many convenient, low-cost and easy-to-operate fluorescent probes for Zn²⁺ detection have been developed. This article reviews the latest research advances in fluorescent chemosensors for Zn²⁺ detection from 2019 to 2023. In particular, sensors working through photo-induced electron transfer (PET), excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF), and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanisms are described. We discuss the use of various recognition mechanisms in detecting zinc ions through specific cases, some of which have been validated through theoretical calculations.

Keywords:

• Fluorescence probes
• fluorescence mechanisms
• Zinc ion detection

Author contributions

Conceptualization, J.W. and Y.X.; writing—original draft preparation, J.W.; writing—review and editing, Y.X. Q.H. and S.D.; drawing figures, Q.H. and A.S.; funding acquisition, Y.X. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The author wishes to acknowledge the financial supports from the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province [No.2023JJ50167], the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department [No.22B0593] and the Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation for Postgraduate [No.QL20220233].