A review of fluorescent peptide-based chemosensors with selectivity for metal ions

The exposure of certain metal ions poses significant risks to environmental and biological systems, prompting extensive research among chemists over the past few decades in the design and synthesis of chemosensors capable of sensing and quantifying these chemical species. Fluorescence techniques, known for their high sensitivity, have emerged as excellent tools for advancing chemosensor development. The appeal of peptide-based chemosensors lies in their remarkable biocompatibility, water solubility, low toxicity, and convenient conjugation to relevant biological macromolecules. These attributes position them as valuable tools for the sensing and estimation of biochemical species. In this review, different kinds of fluorescent peptide-based chemosensors that are selective for metal ions are examined, and their coordination modes, detecting methods, and synthesis pathways for fluorophore conjugation with peptide chains are explained, as well.