Triphenylamine-based Schiff bases as the High sensitive Al(3+) or Zn(2+) fluorescence turn-on probe: Mechanism and application in vitro and in vivo.

Two novel similar structural triphenylamine-based Schiff base fluorescent probes (L1/L2) were designed, prepared and characterized. Distinctive recognition mechanisms of L1 and L2 toward Al(3+) and Zn(2+) have been established by UV/vis, fluorescence spectra, mass spectra and (1)H NMR studies, respectively. To further explore their utility in biological system, L2 was selected as a probe for live cell endogenous Zn(2+) indicator and showed superb sensitivity on Zn(2+) intracellular distribution. Furthermore, L2 was employed to selectively detect Zn(2+) in live tissues at both extracellular and intracellular level, qualitatively indicated varies zinc concentration as a function of different organs.