Analytical strategies based on quantum dots for heavy metal ions detection.
Heavy metal contamination is one of the major concerns to human health because these substances are toxic and retained by the ecological system. Therefore, in recent years, there has been a pressing need for fast and reliable methods for the analysis of heavy metal ions in environmental and biological samples. Quantum dots (QDs) have facilitated the development of sensitive sensors over the past decade, due to their unique photophysical properties, versatile surface chemistry and ligand binding ability, and the possibility of the encapsulation in different materials or attachment to different functional materials, while retaining their native luminescence property. This paper comments on different sensing strategies with QD for the most toxic heavy metal ions (i.e., cadmium, Cd2+; mercury, Hg2+; and lead, Pb2+). Finally, the challenges and outlook for the QD-based sensors for heavy metals ions are discussed.
University of Santiago de Compostela, Inorganic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Galicia 5706, SpainbPhilipps University of Marburg, Fachbereich Physik, Renthof 7, Marburg 35037, Germany.
Margarita
M
Vázquez-González
Philipps University of Marburg, Fachbereich Physik, Renthof 7, Marburg 35037, Germany.
Carolina
C
Carrillo-Carrion
D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D007477:Ions / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D045663:Quantum Dots
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007477:Ions; D019216:Metals, Heavy