Ion recognition and fluorescent imaging of conjugated polymer fluorescent probes for Fe(III)

Novel polymer fluorescent probes for Fe(III) were synthesized to achieve a steady combination of ferric ions. In the Schiff base reaction of probes’ synthetic process, o-, m- and p-phenylenediamine were respectively introduced to result in a series of new conjugated polymer fluorescent probes. Analyses on optical properties of the probes and probe-Fe(III) characteristic recognition through FS showed an application of the conjugated probes in quantitative identification and detection of Fe(III) with quick responses. Fluorescent imaging of the probes and probe-Fe(III) in living cells in vitro revealed low toxicity of the probes and predicted the probes’ further application for instant $$\text {Fe}^{{3+}}$$ detection in clinical diagnosis and dynamic tracing of $$\text {Fe}^{{3+}}$$ in biological systems.