Conjugation of mono-substituted phthalocyanine derivatives to CdSe@ZnS quantum dots and their applications as fluorescent-based sensors

Abstract Unsymmetrically substituted derivatives of aluminium amino phthalocyanines were synthesized for the first time, fully characterized and conjugated to CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs). The conjugates were employed as fluorescence-based sensors for anion sensing. Among the anions that enhanced the fluorescence of the probe, fluoride ion was chosen as the test ion to test the efficacy of the probe. Forster resonance energy transfer from the QDs to the phthalocyanine was observed as an indication for the fluorescence quenching of the QDs upon binding to the phthalocyanine. The fluorescence of the linked QDs was progressively enhanced, and linearly proportional to increasing concentrations of fluoride ion. The type of substituent attached to the phthalocyanine ring influenced the efficiency of fluorescence enhancement. The proposed nanoprobe has been employed to detect fluoride ion in cell culture medium and tap water.