The detection and quantification of heavy metal ions are important in many applications, including environmental monitoring, waste management, developmental biology, and clinical toxicology. As amino acid and peptides are water-soluble and biologicall...
The detection and quantification of heavy metal ions are important in many applications, including environmental monitoring, waste management, developmental biology, and clinical toxicology. As amino acid and peptides are water-soluble and biologically and environmentally compatible, a new chemosensor based on dipeptides are a promising route of development for monitoring heavy metal ions in aqueous system. We designed dipeptide containing Met, His and synthesized fluorescent peptide sensor containing pyrene fluorophore for monitoring heavy metal ions. The peptide sensor showed a response to Cu(II), Ag(I) and Hg(II). Specially, the peptide sensor detected Ag(I) and Hg(II) by ratiometric response and Cu(II) by turn off response. The binding affinity and binding stoichiometry of the sensor to the metal ions were characterized.