Issue 14, 2016

Dual-emitting quantum dot/carbon nanodot-based nanoprobe for selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ in cells

Abstract

A novel dual-emitting fluorescence probe is developed for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of Fe3+. The nanoprobe is prepared by coating CdSe semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) onto the surface of carbon nanodot (CND) doped TiO2 microspheres. The as-prepared nanoprobe exhibits the corresponding dual emissions at 436 and 596 nm for CNDs and CdSe, respectively, under a single excitation wavelength. The blue fluorescence of the CNDs is insensitive to Fe3+, whereas the orange emission of the CdSe SQDs is functionalized to be selectively quenched by Fe3+. The intensity ratio of I436/I596 shows a good linear relationship with the concentration of Fe3+ in the range of 10−9 to 10−5 M. The nanoprobe provides an effective platform for the reliable detection of Fe3+ with a detection limit as low as 10 nM. Besides, this ratiometric nanosensor exhibits good selectivity for Fe3+ over other metal ions. The results reveal that the nanoprobe could provide a sensitive sensor for rapid detection of Fe3+ with high selectivity and sensitivity. Moreover, 293T cells are used as models to achieve a potential application as a probe for monitoring Fe3+ in cells. Thus, these dual-emitting nanoprobes could work as an alternative to conventional fluorescence probes for biolabeling, sensing and other applications.

Graphical abstract: Dual-emitting quantum dot/carbon nanodot-based nanoprobe for selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ in cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Mar 2016
Accepted
12 May 2016
First published
12 May 2016

Analyst, 2016,141, 4488-4494

Dual-emitting quantum dot/carbon nanodot-based nanoprobe for selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ in cells

C. Wang, Y. Huang, K. Jiang, M. G. Humphrey and C. Zhang, Analyst, 2016, 141, 4488 DOI: 10.1039/C6AN00605A

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