Patent ID: 8530183

Claim:
A method of detecting zinc ion (Zn 2+ ) release by a cell comprising: (a) contacting a cell with a compound having the formula: wherein R 1 and R 4 are independently H, or —CH 2 (CH 2 ) a COOH, CH 2 (CH 2 ) b SO 3 H, wherein a = is 0, 1 or 2 and b, 1, 2 or 3; R 2 and R 3 are independently H, or linear or branched C 1-20 alkyl; R 5 and R 6 are independently H, F, Cl, Br; R7 is H, or linear or branched C 1-4 alkyl or acetate; R8 and R9 are independently H, or linear or branched C 1-4 alkyl or acetate; and m is 1, 2 or 3; n is 1, 2, 3 or 4; and o is 1,2, 3 or 4; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and (b) detecting fluorescence of said compound following zinc release by said cell and binding of zinc by said compound.