An “On–Off” AIE-Based Lock-and-Key Fluorescent Probe System for Detection of Fentanyl/Norfentanyl
The misuse of fentanyl poses significant social risks, and accurately and swiftly detecting fentanyl in field settings presents a considerable challenge. Herein, we have designed and synthesized a fluorescent probe TP-CF<sub>3</sub>-COOH, which is composed of carboxyl- and trifluoromethy...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1985 |
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| Summary: | The misuse of fentanyl poses significant social risks, and accurately and swiftly detecting fentanyl in field settings presents a considerable challenge. Herein, we have designed and synthesized a fluorescent probe TP-CF<sub>3</sub>-COOH, which is composed of carboxyl- and trifluoromethyl-binding center tetraphenyl butadiene. The unique centrosymmetric configuration of the TP-CF<sub>3</sub>-COOH probe allows for the construction of a fluorescence “on–off” mechanism recognition platform by spatially matching fentanyl and its metabolite norfentanyl. Importantly, this study reveals that the interaction of fentanyl or norfentanyl with TP-CF<sub>3</sub>-COOH results in spontaneous self-assembly, generating a three-dimensional complex sphere that is smaller than the two-dimensional sheet fluorescence probe. This self-assembly process results in the quenching of fluorescence. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that this process is accompanied by intermolecular through-space charge transfer during self-assembly, leading to a blue shift in emission wavelength. As a result, the TP-CF<sub>3</sub>-COOH fluorescent probe enables the quantitative detection of fentanyl/norfentanyl within a range of 1 × 10<sup>−2</sup>–1 × 10<sup>3 </sup>μg/L, with limits of detection of 2 × 10<sup>−4 </sup>μg/L and 3 × 10<sup>−4 </sup>μg/L, respectively. This cost-effective, rapid, and sensitive fluorescent probe holds great potential for the onsite screening and detection of fentanyl and its analogues. |
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| ISSN: | 1420-3049 |