Scintillation-based potassium signalling using 2,5-diphenyloxazole-tagged aza-18-crown-6

In the presence of ionising radiation, an aza-18-crown-6 molecule covalently attached to a 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) moiety scintillates weakly, addition of potassium ions results in enhanced levels of scintillation, the degree of scintillation reflecting the concentration of the potassium ions.