A lysosome-targeting rhodamine fluorescent probe for Cu2+ detection and its applications in test kits and zebrafish imaging

Tracing copper ions levels in the environment and subcellular microenvironment is crucial due to the key role copper ions play in physiological and pathological processes. Herein, a novel naphthalimide-fused rhodamine probe Rh-Naph-Cu was prepared through modification with phenylhydrazine to produce a closed and non-fluorescent spirolactam. Based on the copper-induced spirolactam ring-opening and hydrolysis process, Rh-Naph-Cu can be employed as a fluorescence off–on probe for copper ions with high selectivity, high sensitivity (limit of detection: 33.0 nM), broad pH-response range (pH: 5.0–10.0), and color change visible with the naked eye. Rh-Nap-Cu could be made into test strips for the in-situ chromogenic detection of Cu 2+ . Significantly, Rh-Naph-Cu can be utilized for the detection of copper ions in living HeLa cells and zebrafish, and exhibits excellent lysosomal-targeting ability with high Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.96.