Fluorophore-modified hybrid mesoporous silica nanosensor for selective sensing of mercury ions from aqueous solution and biological cells.

• Colorimetric sensing is an easy approach for toxic metal ion screening. • Fluorophore-modified MSH@EB has been developed for selective sensing of Hg2+ ions. • The MSH@EB is useful to investigate the Hg2+ ions in water and biological samples. Mercury and its compounds are extremely toxic and have a negative impact on humans and other organisms, but they are abundant in the environment. Colorimetric sensing of toxic heavy metal ions is a relatively simple, quick, and efficient technique that uses visual color change and has received a lot of attention. We created an ethidium bromide (EB) immobilized heterogeneous hybrid mesoporous organosilica nanosensor for colorimetric and visual determination of mercury (Hg2+ ions) in water and biological cells were experimentally evaluated in this study. Over a range of competitive metal ions, this nanosensor demonstrated selective monitoring of Hg2+ ions via visual color transition and fluorescent quenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]