Excited state intramolecular proton transfer dual emission Schiff bases for metal detection and cell imaging

AbstractFluorescent probes incorporating the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) phenomenon have emerged as versatile tools in scientific research. These probes exhibit dual emission, resulting from the unique transfer of a proton within the molecule upon excitation. This property makes ESIPT-based Schiff bases highly attractive for metal detection, cell imaging, and sensing biologically important molecules. In metal detection, the spectral changes of ESIPT-based Schiff bases upon interaction with metal ions enable the development of sensitive and selective sensors. For cell imaging, their photophysical properties make them ideal for labeling cellular components and facilitating multicolor imaging. In sensing biomolecules, ESIPT-based Schiff bases offer selective detection of interactions and enzymatic activities. Integration of these probes holds great promise for applications in environmental monitoring, biomedical research, and healthcare. This review focuses on the photoluminescent properties and application of ESIPT dual emission Schiff bases for sensing of metal ions, biologically relevant molecules and cell imaging.Keywords: Fluorescent probesdual emissionSchiff baseenvironmental monitoringcell imaging AcknowledgmentsThe authors are thankful to the Center for Research, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), for the research support and facilities.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.