Highly selective and sensitive fluorescent nanosensor for zinc ions

Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles were covalently modified by a fluorescent 8-aminoquinoline derivative and formed an optical sensor to be used as a highly sensitive and selective Zn2+ ions fluorescent nanosensor in aqueous solution at pH 7.0. The nanosensor was sufficiently characterized by physicochemical methods. The sensor can detect Zn2+ ions in aqueous solution with a submicromolar sensitivity of 0.1 μM, and the interfering metal ions cannot influence its selectivity. MTT assay experiments indicated that the sensor showed no apparent cytotoxicity.