A Near-Infrared Self-Assembled Micellar Nanoprobe for Highly Selective Detection of Hydrazine

Hydrazine (N2H4) has attracted great attention due to its wide use and high toxicity, and it also brings serious damage to the environment and the human body. Therefore, tracking hydrazine in the environment and organisms is of great importance. Herein, we rationally designed and prepared a water-soluble near-infrared self-assembled micellar nanoprobe nano-T1 for highly selective detection of hydrazine. The probe (T1) contains a chalcone derivative for fluorescent signaling and dual-responsive recognition moieties (α, β-unsaturated ketone, and acetyl groups). Furthermore, to improve the probe’s biocompatibility, we encapsulated T1 into the hydrophobic interior of an amphiphilic copolymer (mPEG-DSPE) and prepared the new micellar nanoprobe: nano-T1. In our experiments, the new nanoprobe shows excellent sensitivity, selectivity and water solubility in hydrazine detection. In addition, nano-T1 was successfully used to track hydrazine in living cancer cells due to its favorable cellular uptaken and good membrane permeability. With this promising feature, nano-T1 provides an alternative method for monitoring hydrazine which is helpful for related studies.