•An novel AIE-based compound TIBI was successfully designed and synthesized.•TIBI exhibited great solubility in aqueous solution.•TIBI could detect heparin with very low detection limit (0.08 μM).•TIBI could exhibit red light emission (650 nm) while interacting with heparin.•TIBI could be successfully applied to detect heparin in human serum samples.Heparin is widely used to anticoagulation treatment in clinic, while the overdoses of heparin can cause potentially catastrophic complications. Thus, the selective and sensitive detection of heparin is of great importance. Herein, a novel water-soluble AIE-based fluorescent probe (TIBI) with red emission (650 nm) has been rationally developed to detect heparin by the electrostatic-interaction and ion replacing strategy. TIBI exhibited excellent selectivity and low detection limit (0.08 μM) for detection of heparin. Moreover, TIBI was successfully applied to detect heparin in complicated serum samples with satisfactory results. This study holds great promise for real time monitoring heparin in clinical application.Download high-res image (165KB)Download full-size image

•A novel type of specific probe HMPM-NS was design and synthesized with good yields.•It displays high selectivity and sensitivity for Cu2+ detection.•It enables to quantitatively detect lower than micromole level of Cu2+ with a fast response and in almost the entire alkalinity pH range (from 4.8 to 13.5).•We also successfully applied it to visualize Cu2+ in living cells.A novel fluorescent quenching probe (HMPM-NS) bearing a dansyl and pyridine group has been successfully developed. This probe showed high selectivity and sensitivity for the detection of copper ion over commonly coexistent metal ions or anions in neutral aqueous media. The limit of detection of this probe based on 3 × δblank/k was calculated as low as 0.168 μM of Cu2+. And the interaction mode with 1:1 stoichiometry was proposed between HMPM-NS and Cu2+. It can be used in almost the entire alkalinity pH window (from pH 4.8–13.5) with a fast response when reacts with Cu2+. On the account of its excellent spectroscopic properties, we demonstrated this probe displays good cell permeability by 3D cell imaging and then successfully applied it to visualize Cu2+ in living cells, which further revealed its valuable applications in biological systems.