Monitoring copper ions in C. elegans using porphyrin phosphonic acids

Abstract Herein we report a charge-assisted hydrogen bonded organic framework (HOF) built with an extended tethered phosphonic acid namely 5,10,15,20-Tetra-(4’-yl-[1’,1”-biphenyl]−4”phosphonic acid) porphyrin ( p -H 8 -TBPPA) and phenyl phosphonic acid (PPA). Metal responsive fluorescent properties of the linker p -H 8 -TBPPA with biologically significant transition metal ions (Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ ) and heavy metal ions (Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ ) is further characterized. p -H 8 -TBPPA shows distinct fluorescence responses for each metal ion with very specific decreases in intensity for the different analytes, and the strong turn off fluorescence of p -H 8 -TBPPA in presence of copper is used to monitor copper ion homeostasis in C. elegans. p -H 8 -TBPPA is also found to be non-toxic for Caco-2 cells and C. elegans at concentrations required for fluorescence measurements. These findings establish p -H 8 -TBPPA as a promising platform for the development of in vivo metal ion sensors, with potential applications in diagnostic imaging, and environmental monitoring.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communications Materials
Published
2025-10-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00975-0
Primary Topic
Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Monitoring copper ions in C. elegans using porphyrin phosphonic acids

Hajo Haase, Lutz Schomburg, Julia Bornhorst, Ann-Kathrin Weishaupt et al.
Communications Materials
Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection
article

Monitoring copper ions in C. elegans using porphyrin phosphonic acids

Hajo Haase, Lutz Schomburg, Julia Bornhorst, Ann-Kathrin Weishaupt, Yunus Zorlu, Jonas Fabrizi, Jens Beckmann, Maria Maares, Gündoğ Yücesan, Patrik Tholen, Tim Müller, Tuong Lan Nguyen, Franz‐Josef Schmitt, Claudia Keil
article en

Abstract

Abstract Herein we report a charge-assisted hydrogen bonded organic framework (HOF) built with an extended tethered phosphonic acid namely 5,10,15,20-Tetra-(4’-yl-[1’,1”-biphenyl]−4”phosphonic acid) porphyrin ( p -H 8 -TBPPA) and phenyl phosphonic acid (PPA). Metal responsive fluorescent properties of the linker p -H 8 -TBPPA with biologically significant transition metal ions (Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ ) and heavy metal ions (Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ ) is further characterized. p -H 8 -TBPPA shows distinct fluorescence responses for each metal ion with very specific decreases in intensity for the different analytes, and the strong turn off fluorescence of p -H 8 -TBPPA in presence of copper is used to monitor copper ion homeostasis in C. elegans. p -H 8 -TBPPA is also found to be non-toxic for Caco-2 cells and C. elegans at concentrations required for fluorescence measurements. These findings establish p -H 8 -TBPPA as a promising platform for the development of in vivo metal ion sensors, with potential applications in diagnostic imaging, and environmental monitoring.

Communications MaterialsVol. 6(1)
Gebze Technical University (TR), University of Wuppertal (DE), University of Potsdam (DE), University of Bremen (DE), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (DE), Technische Universität Berlin (DE), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (DE), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Openalex Percentile: Top 72%
Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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