A fluorescence-enhanced sensor based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was synthesized using a di(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) group as a highly selective metal chelating agent for Zn2+. The combination of the probe and Zn2+ was achieved in an environment where the volume fraction of water was 90%, giving the probe good biocompatibility, and a large Stokes shift (100 nm) occurred after Zn2+ was combined with the probe. The obvious color change makes the probe visible to the naked eye, and gives it a high signal-to-noise ratio, and high contrast, and minimizes self-absorption. Because of the high selectivity of the DPA group to Zn2+, the sensitivity of the probe to detect Zn2+ has been improved. The mechanism of the formation of complexes between the probe and Zn2+ was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and particle size distribution. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear fluorescence reaction of Zn2+ was good, between 0.2 and 18 μM, and the detection limit was 1.3 × 10-7 M. The low toxicity and excellent membrane permeability of the probe in living cells enable it to be efficiently applied for Zn2+ imaging in cells. Graphical abstract.

中文翻译：

---

基于AIE的Zn2 +大斯托克斯位移荧光探针及其在活细胞成像中的应用。

使用二（2-吡啶甲基）胺（DPA）基团作为Zn2 +的高度选择性金属螯合剂，合成了基于聚集诱导发射（AIE）的荧光增强型传感器。在水的体积分数为90％的环境中实现了探针与Zn2 +的结合，从而使探针具有良好的生物相容性，并且在Zn2 +与探针结合后发生了较大的斯托克斯位移（100 nm）。明显的颜色变化使探头肉眼可见，并赋予其高信噪比和高对比度，并使自吸收最小化。由于DPA基团对Zn2 +的高选择性，提高了探针检测Zn2 +的灵敏度。探针与Zn2 +之间形成络合物的机理已通过核磁共振波谱（NMR）证实，高分辨率质谱（HRMS）和粒度分布。在最佳实验条件下，Zn2 +的线性荧光反应良好，在0.2至18μM之间，检出限为1.3×10-7M。该探针在活细胞中的低毒性和优异的膜通透性使其能够成为有效地应用于细胞中的Zn2 +成像。图形概要。