A novel FRET fluorescent probe based on BODIPY- rhodamine system for Hg2+ imaging in living cells

A novel BODIPY-rhodamine ratiometric fluorescence probe BR for detection of Hg2+ ions was developed by using BODIPY as energy donor and rhodamine as energy acceptor. The fluorescence energy resonance transfer (FRET) between BODIPY and rhodamine was realized by using Hg2+ ions to open the spirolactam ring of rhodamine, resulting in a 73 nm fluorescence red shift. Furthermore, probe BR was successfully applied for Hg2+ detection on the test paper strips and Hg2+ imaging in living Hela cells.