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Zn 2+ plays a vital role in regulating various life processes, such as gene expression, cell signaling, and brain function. In this study, a near-infrared fluorescent probe AXS was synthesized to detect Zn 2+ with good fluorescence specificity, high selectivity, and high sensitivity; the detection limit of Zn 2+ was 6.924 × 10 -11 M. The mechanism of Zn 2+ recognition by the AXS probe was investigated by 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance titrations, UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Test paper experiments showed that the AXS probe could detect Zn 2+ in real samples. In addition, quantitative and qualitative detection of Zn 2+ in common foodstuffs was achieved. For portable Zn 2+ detection, a smartphone detection platform was also developed based on the AXS probe. Importantly, the AXS probe showed good bioimaging capabilities in Caenorhabditis elegans and mice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Carbon monoxide (CO), a significant gas transmitter, plays a vital role in the intricate functioning of living systems and is intimately linked to a variety of physiological and pathological processes. To comprehensively investigate CO within biological system, researchers have widely adopted CORM-3, a compound capable of releasing CO, which serves as a surrogate for CO. It aids in elucidating the physiological and pathological effects of CO within living organisms and can be employed as a therapeutic drug molecule. Therefore, the pivotal role of CORM-3 necessitates the development of effective probes that can facilitate the visualization and tracking of CORM-3 in living systems. However, creating fluorescent probes for real-time imaging of CORM-3 in living species has proven to be a persisting challenge that arises from factors such as background interference, light scattering and photoactivation. Herein, the BNDN fluorescent probe, a brand-new near-infrared is proposed. Remarkably, the BNDN probe offers several noteworthy advantages, including a substantial Stokes shift (201 nm), heightened sensitivity, exceptional selectivity, and an exceedingly low CORM-3 detection limit (0.7 ppb). Furthermore, the underlying sensing mechanism has been meticulously examined, revealing a process that revives the fluorophore by reducing the complex Cu 2+ to Cu + . This distinctive NIR fluorescence "turn-on" character, coupled with its larger Stokes shift, holds great promise for achieving high resolution imaging. Most impressively, this innovative probe has demonstrated its efficacy in detecting exogenous CORM-3 in living animal. It is important to underscore that these endeavors mark a rare instance of a near-infrared probes successfully detecting exogenous CORM-3 in vivo. These exceptional outcomes highlighted the potential of BNDN as a highly promising new tool for in vivo detection of CORM-3. Considering the impressive imaging capabilities demonstrated by BNDN presented in this study, we anticipate that this tool may offer a compelling avenue for shedding light on the roles of CO in future research endeavors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pb 2+ is a heavy metal ion pollutant that poses a serious threat to human health and ecosystems. The conventional methods for detecting Pb 2+ have several limitations. In this study, we introduce a novel fluorescent probe that enables the detection of Pb 2+ in the near-infrared region, free from interference from other common ions. A unique characteristic of this probe is its ability to rapidly and accurately identify Pb 2+ through ratiometric measurements accompanied by a large Stokes shift of 201 nm. The limit of detection achieved by probe was remarkably low, surpassing the standards set by the World Health Organization, and outperforming previously reported probes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first organic small-molecule fluorescent probe with both near-infrared emission and ratiometric properties for the detection of Pb 2+ . We present a triple-mode sensing platform constructed using a probe that allows for the sensitive and selective recognition of Pb 2+ in common food items. Furthermore, we successfully conducted high-quality fluorescence imaging of Pb 2+ in various samples from common edible plants, HeLa cells, Caenorhabditis elegans, and mice. Importantly, the probe-Pb 2+ complex exhibited tumour-targeting capabilities. Overall, this study presents a novel approach for the development of fluorescent probes for Pb 2+ detection., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Conventional ascorbic acid (AA) detection methods such as chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, colorimetry, electrochemical detection, and enzymatic analysis require expensive equipment and complicated operation. Simple, rapid, and accurate AA detection is essential to inspect food quality, diagnose diseases, and assess immunity in humans. In this study, the first near-infrared fluorescence sensor DBHM with aggregation-induced emission was developed to detect AA under the involvement of Cu 2+ . The DBHM + Cu 2+ sensor showed high sensitivity to AA with a limit of detection of 2.37 μM. The AA detection mechanism was investigated by optical studies, 1 H NMR titration, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy. AA was detected qualitatively and quantitatively by the DBHM + Cu 2+ sensor in beverages, fruits, and Vitamin C tablets using a dual-mode (fluorescence and smartphone app) sensing platform. The new sensing system also showed low toxicity and excellent bioimaging in HeLa cells, C. elegans, and mice. This sensor could advance AA detection technology in the food industry and has potential bioimaging applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)