Sensitive detection of cyanide using bovine serum albumin-stabilized cerium/gold nanoclusters.
A simple, sensitive, and selective fluorescence assay for the detection of CN(-) has been demonstrated using bovine serum albumin-stabilized cerium/gold nanoclusters (BSA-Ce/Au NCs). When excited at 325 nm, BSA-Ce/Au NCs have two fluorescence bands centered at 410 and 658 nm, which are assigned to BSA-Ce/Au complexes and Au NCs, respectively. Each BSA-Ce/Au NC contains 22 Au atoms and 8 Ce ions. Through etching of the Au core in BSA-Ce/Au NCs by CN(-), the fluorescence at 658 nm is quenched, while that at 410 nm enhances during the formation of complexes among BSA, Ce(4+), and [Au(CN)2](-). The circular dichroism spectra reveal that relative to BSA-Au NCs, BSA-Ce/Au NCs have looser structures of the BSA templates. As a result, it is easier for CN(-) to access the Au cores in BSA-Ce/Au NCs, allowing faster (within 15 min) etching of the Au cores by CN(-). At pH 12.0, this assay allows the detection of CN(-) down to 50 nM, with linearity over 0.1-15 μM. This assay has been applied to the determination of the concentrations of CN(-) in spiked drinking water and pond water samples.
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Chia-Wei
CW
Wang
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Ya-Na
YN
Chen
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Bo-Yi
BY
Wu
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Cheng-Kai
CK
Lee
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Ying-Chieh
YC
Chen
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
Yu-Huei
YH
Huang
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan. changht@ntu.edu.tw.
Huan-Tsung
HT
Chang
D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry*; D003486:Cyanides / Q000032:analysis*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis; D005453:Fluorescence; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D061005:Ponds / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D003486:Cyanides; D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D002563:Cerium; D006046:Gold
Cerium; Cyanide; Fluorescence; Gold; Nanoclusters