Mitochondria-Targeted Colorimetric and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Hg2+ with Large Stokes Shift

Zhu, Dongjian; Zhang, Yufei; Pan, Yuyan; Li, Sheng; Ren, Aishan

doi:10.3390/molecules31122092

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Mitochondria-Targeted Colorimetric and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Hg²⁺ with Large Stokes Shift

by

Dongjian Zhu

,

Yufei Zhang

,

Yuyan Pan

,

Sheng Li

and

Aishan Ren

^*

Guangxi Key Laboratory of Health Care Food Science and Technology, College of Food and Bioengineering, Hezhou University, Hezhou 542899, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Molecules 2026, 31(12), 2092; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122092 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 20 May 2026 / Revised: 9 June 2026 / Accepted: 12 June 2026 / Published: 14 June 2026

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Abstract

In this study, probe 1, a novel mitochondria-targeted fluorescent probe for the colorimetric and ratiometric detection of Hg²⁺, was developed. Upon addition of Hg²⁺ to the solution of 1, distinct spectral changes were observed. The absorption spectra underwent a blue shift from 510 nm to 450 nm (Δλ = 60 nm), and the solution color changed from red to pale yellow under daylight. Concurrently, a significant blue shift occurred from 645 nm to 540 nm (Δλ = 105 nm) in the fluorescence spectra. There were remarkable variations in the fluorescence intensity ratio of F_540nm/F_645nm with the R/R₀ value reaching up to 824-fold, and the fluorescence color changed from red to green under a 365 nm UV lamp. Probe 1 featured a large Stokes shift of 135 nm, high sensitivity with an LOD of 25.5 nM, and excellent selectivity for Hg²⁺ even in the presence of other analytes. Furthermore, 1 was successfully applied for the ratiometric imaging of intracellular Hg²⁺ and was confirmed to localize specifically within mitochondria.

Keywords: mitochondria-targeted; colorimetric and ratiometric; fluorescent probe; Hg²⁺; large stokes shift

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhu, D.; Zhang, Y.; Pan, Y.; Li, S.; Ren, A. Mitochondria-Targeted Colorimetric and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Hg²⁺ with Large Stokes Shift. Molecules 2026, 31, 2092. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122092

AMA Style

Zhu D, Zhang Y, Pan Y, Li S, Ren A. Mitochondria-Targeted Colorimetric and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Hg²⁺ with Large Stokes Shift. Molecules. 2026; 31(12):2092. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122092

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhu, Dongjian, Yufei Zhang, Yuyan Pan, Sheng Li, and Aishan Ren. 2026. "Mitochondria-Targeted Colorimetric and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Hg²⁺ with Large Stokes Shift" Molecules 31, no. 12: 2092. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122092

APA Style

Zhu, D., Zhang, Y., Pan, Y., Li, S., & Ren, A. (2026). Mitochondria-Targeted Colorimetric and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Hg²⁺ with Large Stokes Shift. Molecules, 31(12), 2092. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122092

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Mitochondria-Targeted Colorimetric and Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for Hg²⁺ with Large Stokes Shift

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