title: A label-free method for detecting biological thiols based on blocking of Hg2+-quenching of fluorescent gold nanoclusters.
abstract: A novel, label-free, fluorescent, turn-on sensor for biological thiol detection that uses highly fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), prepared by a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-templated green synthetic route, has been developed. The assay relies on blocking Hg(2+)-induced quenching of the fluorescence of AuNCs, caused by metallophilic Hg(2+)-Au(+) interactions, through selective coordination of biological thiols with Hg(2+) ions. Biological thiols entrap added Hg(2+) ions via a robust Hg-S interaction. This phenomenon prevents Hg(2+)-induced quenching and results in fluorescence from AuNCs. By employing this turn-on sensor, biological thiols, such as cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH) and homocysteine (Hcy), are successfully detected at concentrations as low as 8.3 nM for Cys, 9.4 nM for GSH, and 14.9 nM for Hcy. The diagnostic capability and potential in practical applications of this method have been demonstrated by detecting biological thiols in human blood serum.
authors: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 Program), KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ki Soo
authors: KS
authors: Park
authors: Moon Il
authors: MI
authors: Kim
authors: Min-Ah
authors: MA
authors: Woo
authors: Hyun Gyu
authors: HG
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002417:Cattle; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury