The
tetracarboxylate ligand H4TBAPy based on the strongly
fluorescent pyrene cores and bismuth iodide constructed a permanently
3D microporous fluorescent metal–organic framework Bi-TBAPy
first . In this work, the photophysical properties, quantum yield,
and lifetime of the framework were studied fully. Notably, Bi-TBAPy
demonstrates unique “turn on” fluorescence sensing behavior
toward biothiol molecules, for example, Cys, GSH, and Hcy. The limits
of detections are 1.41 μM (Cys), 1.71 μM (GSH), and 1.10
μM (Hcy), respectively. Biological activity was studied by CCK-8,
flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. The experimental result
will hopefully be useful information when using Bi-TBAPy as a fluorescent
probe.