Metals are necessary for life, however excess metal ions can lead to deleterious effect on aquatic organisms and human health. For example Cu(II) can be toxic to living organisms in low concentration. This toxicity of metal ions depends on concentration of free ion rather than total metal concentration.In our group, we are developing a novel fluorescent ratiometric sensor to measure the bioavalable copper(II) in the environment especially in water supplies. This indicator consists of Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (�polyNIPAM�), high affinity ligand (N-2-pyridinylethyl)-(N-2-pyridylmethyl)-3-aminopropyl-acrylamide (�PEPMA-C3-AM�) and a pair of fluorophores (Rhodamine and Alexafluor 647). polyNIPAM is a responsive polymer whose phase transitions are caused by metal complexation and are monitored by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). By separating complexation and fluorescence events, we are able to design a ratiometric indicator for a metal that usually quenches fluorescence. Our current results show that fluorescent intensity ratio Acceptor/Donor (�A/D ratio�) of this indicator is proportional to concentration of Cu(II).

Synthesis of ligands and polymers for fluorescent ratiometric sensor of Cu (II)

247th National Meeting (2014)

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