A silver metal complex as a luminescent probe for enzymatic sensing of glucose in blood plasma and urine

Abstract

In this work, we present a facile preparation of a paper-based glucose assay for rapid, sensitive, and quantitative measurement of glucose in blood plasma and urine. Two copper phosphorescent complexes [Cu(2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide)₂][B(C₆H₃(CF₃)₂)₄] (Cu1) and [Cu(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide)₂][B(C₆H₃(CF₃)₂)₄] (Cu2) and a new silver congener [Ag(P³)CNAg(P³)][B(C₆H₃(CF₃)₂)₄] (Ag3) (P³ = PPh₂C₆H₄-PPh-C₆H₄PPh₂ [bis(o-diphenylphosphinophenyl)phenylphosphine]) have been synthesized and their oxygen sensing abilities were investigated. The dimetallic phosphine-based Ag3 complex, having a high oxygen sensing ability, was employed as an efficient signal transducer in enzymatic reactions to recognize blood plasma glucose and urine glucose, which provided a wide linear response for a concentration range between 1.0 and 35 mM and a rapid response, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.09 mM for glucose. In practical application, this Ag3 paper-based device offers great analytical reliability and accuracy upon monitoring glucose concentrations in blood plasma.