A Novel Oxygen Sampling Method in Perfused Ex Vivo Human Placentas to Understand the Pathogenesis of Fetal Growth Restriction

A water-soluble and highly phosphorescent cyclometallated iridium complex [(pq)2Ir(bpy-COOK)]+Cl- (where pq=2-phenylquinoline, bpy-COOK= potassium 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylate) (Ir) has been synthesized and characterized. Its phosphorescence can be sensitively and selectively quenched by tryptophan through a photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) process. Furthermore, the phosphorescence of Ir is drastically increased upon binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the enhanced signal is effectively quenched in the presence of Cu2+. Thus, Ir can be used as a multifunctional chemosensor for tryptophan, BSA, and Cu2+ determination as well as for cell imaging.