Ratiometric detection and monitoring of cyanide in biological, environmental and food samples by a novel triphenylamine-xhantane based fluorescent probe

Background: As cyanide (CN−) is a significant hazard to the environment and human health, it is essential to monitor cyanide levels in water and food samples. Moreover, real-time visualization of CN−could provide an additional understanding of its critical physiological and toxicological roles in living cells. The fluorescence approach based on small organic probes is an effective way for the detection of CN−. In this approach, a triphenylamine-xhantane conjugate was applied to detect in many samples such as sewage water, soil, sprouted potato, apricot seed, and living cells. Results: We report a new ratiometric near-infrared fluorescent probe based on a triphenylamine-xhantane derivative for CN−sensing in many samples. The probe displays high selectivity for only CN− ions among a series of analytes. The addition of cyanide to the dicyanovinyl moiety of the probe disrupts π-conjugation followed by the interruption of internal charge transfer. Consequently, the emission peak of the probe shifts hypsochromically from 655 to 495 nm. There is a linear correlation between the emission intensity (I495) and cyanide level, with a detection limit of 0.036 μM. The probe has many advantages over many probes, such as NIR fluorescence, ratiometric response, low cytotoxicity (85.0 % cell viability up to 50.0 μM of the probe), good membrane permeability, fast response time (4.0 min), high selectivity, good photostability, and anti-interference capability. Significance: Although various probes have been reported in the literature, the use of triphenylamine-xhantane unit as CN− probe has yet to be explored. The probe can detect trace levels of cyanide in many samples such as sewage water, soil, sprouted potatoes, and apricot seeds. Furthermore, it is successfully utilized for the ratiometric fluorescent bioimaging of cyanide in living cells.