title: Dual-emitting quantum dot/carbon nanodot-based nanoprobe for selective and sensitive detection of Fe(3+) in cells.
abstract: A novel dual-emitting fluorescence probe is developed for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of Fe(3+). 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 Fe(3+), whereas the orange emission of the CdSe SQDs is functionalized to be selectively quenched by Fe(3+). The intensity ratio of I436/I596 shows a good linear relationship with the concentration of Fe(3+) in the range of 10(-9) to 10(-5) M. The nanoprobe provides an effective platform for the reliable detection of Fe(3+) with a detection limit as low as 10 nM. Besides, this ratiometric nanosensor exhibits good selectivity for Fe(3+) over other metal ions. The results reveal that the nanoprobe could provide a sensitive sensor for rapid detection of Fe(3+) with high selectivity and sensitivity. Moreover, 293T cells are used as models to achieve a potential application as a probe for monitoring Fe(3+) in cells. Thus, these dual-emitting nanoprobes could work as an alternative to conventional fluorescence probes for biolabeling, sensing and other applications.
authors.affiliation: China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Functional Molecular Materials, School of Chemical & Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China. chi.zhang@jiangnan.edu.cn chi.zhang@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Chuanxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kaili
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D014025:Titanium; D007501:Iron