abstract |
A fluorescent metal-chelating amphiphile having structures (a) or (b) wherein A is a hydrophobic fluorophore, X and Y are aliphatic hydrocarbons having from 9 to 25 carbon atoms, B is a hydrophilic spacer, C is a metal chelator, and L is either an ether or ester linkage. The fluorescent metal-chelating amphiphile is combined with a matrix lipid to form lipid-based sensors which provide fluorometric detection of metal ions in liquids. |