Work

Mitochondria and Lysosome‐Targeted Luminescent Iridium(III) Probe for Selective Detection of Hg 2 ⁺ in Aqueous Media and Living Cells

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Mercury is one of the most toxic environmental elements and poses significant health risks to humans and other animals. Therefore, the selective detection of mercury in environmental and biological settings is of critical importance. This study presents an iridium(III) complex probe ( Ir1 ), constructed with two cyclometalating 2‐phenylquinoline ligands and an N,N ‐donor 2,2'‐bipyridine‐4,4'‐diboronic acid as the ancillary ligand for “turn‐off” luminescent sensing of Hg 2+ ions. The boronic acid groups, strategically incorporated into the bipyridine ligand, serve as the reaction sites, enabling a rapid and selective transmetalation with Hg 2 ⁺, resulting in decreased luminescence. Ir1 shows a detection limit of 26.5 µM toward Hg 2 ⁺ in aqueous media over a wide pH range (4–9) and retains selectivity in the presence of competing metal ions. Confocal fluorescence microscopy confirmed that Ir1 accumulates predominantly in the mitochondria and lysosomes of living cells, where it exhibits Hg 2 ⁺‐dependent luminescence quenching. This organelle‐specific targeting is particularly relevant due to mercury's high affinity for thiol‐rich proteins in these compartments, making Ir1 a valuable tool for intracellular mercury monitoring.

Source: Chemistry - An Asian Journal

DOI: 10.1002/asia.70345

Authors: Aryan Gautam, Deepika Chauhan, Ajay Gupta, Km. Kalpana, Pijus K. Sasmal

Institution: Jawaharlal Nehru University

Language: English

Topic: Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection

Subfield: Spectroscopy

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, Science and Engineering Research Board, Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences

Awards: G3750096202, G4226523933, G6623198652