Highly sensitive ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for silver ion and silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution.

A pyrene derivative chemosensor (Pyr-WH) based on a dipeptide shows a highly sensitive ratiometric response to Ag(I) as well as silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution at physiological pH. Pyr-WH penetrated live HeLa cells and exhibits a ratiometric response to intracellular Ag(I). The binding mode of Pyr-WH with Ag(I) was characterized based on fluorescence changes in different pH, NMR, and ESI mass spectrometer experiments.