Highly selective trapping of enteropathogenic E. coli on Fabry-Pérot sensor mirrors

A novel strategy for the enhancement of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) was developed by combining CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with graphene oxide-chitosan (GO-CHIT). The ECL sensor fabricated with CdSe QDs/GO-CHIT composite exhibited high ECL intensity, good biocompatibility and long-term stability, and was used to detect of cytochrome C (Cyt C). The results show that the ECL sensor has high sensitivity for Cyt C with the linear range from 4.0 to 324 μM and the detection limit of 1.5 μM. Furthermore, the ECL sensor can selectively sense Cyt C from glucose and bovine serum albumin (BSA).     

Amplified electrochemiluminescence of quantum dots by electrochemically reduced graphene oxide for nanobiosensing of acetylcholine

A signal amplification system for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of quantum dots (QDs) was developed by using electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) to construct a nanobiosensing platform. Due to the structural defects of GO, the ECL emission of QDs coated on GO modified electrode was significantly quenched. After the electrochemical reduction of GO, the restoration of structural conjugation was observed with spectroscopic, morphologic and impedance techniques. Thus in the presence of dissolved O? as coreactant, the QDs/ERGO modified electrode showed ECL intensity increase by 4.2 and 178.9 times as compared with intrinsic QDs and QDs/GO modified electrodes due to the adsorption of dissolved O? on ERGO and the facilitated electron transfer. After choline oxidase (ChO) or ChO-acetylcholinesterase was further covalently cross-linked on the QDs/ERGO modified electrode, two ECL biosensors for choline and acetylcholine were fabricated, which showed the linear response ranges and detection limits of 10-210 μM and 8.8 μM for choline, and 10-250 μM and 4.7 μM for acetylcholine, respectively. This green and facile approach to prepare graphene-QDs system could be of potential applications in electronic device and bioanalysis.     

Electrochemiluminescence of CdSe quantum dots for immunosensing of human prealbumin

We describe a non-labeled electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor based on CdSe quantum dots (QDs) for the detection of human prealbumin (PAB, antigen). The immunosensor was fabricated by layer by layer coupled with nanoparticle-amplification techniques. After two gold nanoparticle layers were self-assembled onto the gold electrode surface through cysteamine, anti-PAB (antibody) were conjugated with -COOH groups of both the CdSe QDs and cysteine, which were linked to the gold nanoparticle-modified electrode. The principle of ECL detection was that the immunocomplex inhibited the ECL reaction between CdSe QDs and K(2)S(2)O(8), which resulted in the decrease of ECL intensity. On the one hand, the immunocomplex increased the steric hindrance. On the other hand, the immunocomplex maybe inhibit the transfer of K(2)S(2)O(8) to the surface of the CdSe QD-electrode. The PAB concentration was determined in the range of 5.0 x 10(-10) to 1.0 x 10(-6) g mL(-1), and the detection limit was 1.0 x 10(-11) g mL(-1). The developed CdSe QD-based ECL immunosensor provides a rapid, simple, and sensitive immunoassay protocol for protein detection, which could be applied in more bioanalytical systems.     

Study on the interaction between 2‐mercaptoethanol,dimercaprol and CdSe quantum dots

The interactions between 2‐mercaptoethanol, dimercaprol and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) in organic media have been investigated by spectral methods. The results showed that the fluorescence (FL) emission of CdSe QDs gradually decreased, with a slight red‐shift, after adding thiols to CdSe QDs solutions. With the increase of the concentrations of thiols, the resonance light scattering (RLS) signal of CdSe QDs had been strongly enhanced in the wavelength range 300–500 nm, which was confirmed by the formation of larger CdSe QDs particles. The effect of thiols on the FL emission of CdSe QDs could be described by a Stern–Volmer‐type equation with the concentration ranges 1.0 × 10^–6–7.5 × 10^–4 mol/L for 2‐mercaptoethanol and 1.0 × 10^–7–2.5 × 10^–5 mol/L for dimercaprol. The possible mechanism of the interaction was proposed according to the results of UV‐vis absorption and micro‐Raman spectroscopy. The results indicated that FL quenching was mainly attributable to the exchange of the QDs surface molecules. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Luminescent gelatin nanospheres by encapsulating CdSe quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) have been encapsulated within gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs), which gives GNPs fluorescent properties and improves the biocompatibility of QDs. Hydrophilic CdSe QDs were produced through thermodecomposition following the ligand‐exchange method, and were then encapsulated in GNPs. The results of high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy show that CdSe QDs and QDs‐encapsulated GNPs (QDs‐GNPs) have average diameters of 5 ± 1 and 150 ± 10 nm, respectively. Results of both high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy indicate that CdSe QDs are successfully encapsulated within GNPs. The QDs‐GNPs have distinctive fluorescent properties with maximum emission at 654 nm, with a 24 nm red‐shift comapred with hydrophilic mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)‐modified QDs. In addition, an in vitro cytotoxicity test shows that QDs‐GNPs do not have any toxic effect on cells. It is expected that QDs‐GNPs might be an excellent candidate as a contrast agent in bio‐imaging. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor based on ZIF-8 doped with CdSe quantum dots for the detection of trace estriol

A composite of the metal–organic framework compound ZIF-8 doped with CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with sensitive and stable luminescence was synthesized, and a molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was constructed based on this composite. The ZIF-8@CdSe molecularly imprinted ECL sensor combines the high sensitivity of ECL and the high selectivity of molecular imprinting to realize the sensitive and specific detection of estriol. CdSe QDs and gold nanoparticles were encapsulated within ZIF-8 to obtain the ZIF-8@CdSe QDs/GNP (ZIF@CdSe/GNP) composite. Subsequently, the GNPs were further loaded on the surface of this composite to obtain the GNP/ZIF@CdSe/GNP composite. l -Cysteine was used to immobilize the GNP/ZIF@CdSe/GNP composite on the surface of a gold electrode to obtain the GNP/ZIF@CdSe/GNP-modified gold electrode. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film was prepared on the surface of the modified electrode by electropolymerization with o-phenylenediamine as the functional monomer and estriol as the template molecule. After elution, estriol could be specifically recognized by the cavities. The readsorption of estriol by the MIP can prevent the coreactant from reaching the electrode surface through the cavities, thereby weakening ECL. A good linear relationship existed between the ∆ECL and lg C of estriol concentrations of 1 × 10⁻¹⁴ to 1 × 10⁻⁹ mol·L⁻¹. The detection limit was as low as 8.9 × 10⁻¹⁶ mol·L⁻¹. The sensor was applied in the determination of estriol in serum samples with a recovery of 97.0–102%.     

Synthesis and characterization of cadmium selenide quantum dots doped by europium and investigation of their chemiluminescence properties and antibacterial activities

Nanoparticles of cadmium selenide (CdSe) doped with europium, were synthesized as stabilizing agents using thioglycolic acid ligand. This method is based on the enhancing effect of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) doped with europium on chemiluminescence (CL) emission. This emission was generated by mixing CdSe QDs with manganese (II), iron (II) and chrome (II) sulfates as catalysts in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The structural characteristics and morphology of these nanoparticles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray pattern and dynamic light scattering methods. The CdSe QDs doped with europium were used as the sensitizer in a luminol?hydrogen peroxide CL system. The sensitized CdSe QDs were analyzed for antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive or Gram‐negative bacteria. The results showed that the CdSe QDs are effective against all the studied bacteria, effectiveness was especially higher for Bacillus subtilis.     

Sensitive determination of carbidopa through the electrochemiluminescence of luminol at graphene‐modified electrodes

Using the concept of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL), a sensitive analytical method for the determination of carbidopa is described. Electro‐oxidation of carbidopa on the surface of a graphene oxide (GO)‐modified gold electrode (GE) leads to enhancement of the weak emission of oxidized luminol. Under optimum experimental conditions, the ECL signal increases linearly with increasing carbidopa concentrations over a range of 1.0 × 10^‐9–1.7 × 10^‐7 M, with a detection limit of 7.4 × 10^‐10 M. The proposed ECL method was successfully used for the determination of carbidopa in urine samples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous detection of dual proteins using quantum dots coated silica nanoparticles as labels

Simultaneous detection of multianalytes associated with a particular cancer is beneficial for disease diagnosis. Here, a facile immunosensing strategy was designed to allow simultaneous electrochemical detection of dual proteins, in a single run. CdSe and PbS water-soluble quantum dots (QDs) were prepared and coated on monodisperse silica nanoparticles as labels for proteins detection. Rabbit immunoglobulin G antigen (IgG) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were chosen as model proteins for analysis. After a typical sandwich immunoassay, CdSe and PbS QDs labels were introduced onto the Au substrates' surface, which were then dissolved and could be simultaneously monitored by square-wave-voltammetric (SWV) stripping measurements. Under selected conditions, IgG and CEA could be assayed in the ranges of 0.05-40 ng mL(-1) and 0.05-25 ng mL(-1), respectively. The proposed method possessed high sensitivity, good precision, and satisfactory reproducibility and regeneration.     

Enhanced electrochemiluminescence from reduced graphene oxide–CdTe quantum dots for highly selective determination of copper ion

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on reduced graphene oxide–CdTe quantum dots (RGO–CdTe QDs) composites for detecting copper ion (Cu²⁺) was proposed. The ECL behaviours of the RGO–CdTe QD modified electrode were investigated with H₂O₂ as the co‐reactant. Quantitative detection of Cu²⁺ was realized as Cu²⁺ could effectively quench the ECL signal of the RGO–CdTe QDs. A wide linear range of 1.00 × 10^?14 to 1.00 × 10^?4 M (R = 0.9953) was obtained under optimized conditions, and a detection limit (S/N = 3) was achieved of as low as 3.33 × 10^?15 M. The proposed sensor also exhibited good stability and selectivity for the detection of copper ions. Finally, the analytical application of the proposed sensor was also evaluated using river water.     

Sensitive determination of bromhexine hydrochloride based on its quenching effect on luminol/H2O2 electrochemiluminescence system

In this paper, the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of luminol/H₂O₂ system in the presence of bromhexine hydrochloride (BrH) was investigated. It was found that the ECL intensity of luminol/H₂O₂ system on a platinum electrode could be intensely quenched by BrH owing to the scavenging superoxide radical ability of BrH, and therefore the sensitive determination of BrH was possible. Under optimal conditions, the quenched ECL intensity was linear to the concentration of BrH in a wide range of 0.08 to 500 μM, with a detection limit of 0.02 μM (signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) = 3). This ECL method possessed the merits of rapid, simple and sensitive, and was successfully applied to the BrH quantification in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory recoveries of 91.0 ± 4.0 to 106.5 ± 3.4%. The possible route of the quenched ECL of luminol/H₂O₂ in the presence of BrH was also discussed.     

Direct and indirect immunolabelling of HeLa cells with quantum dots

With excellent optical properties, quantum dots (QDs) have been made as attractive molecular probes for labelling cells in biological research. In this study high‐quality CdSe QDs prepared in a paraffin–oleic acid system were used as fluorescent labels in direct and indirect detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a cancer marker expressed on the surface of HeLa cells. The primary antibody (Ab) (rabbit anti‐CEA8) and secondary Ab (goat anti‐rabbit IgG) were covalently linked to carboxyl‐functioned CdSe QDs, and both the QDs–antibody and QDs–IgG probes were successfully used to label HeLa cells. The present study demonstrates the practicability of CdSe QDs as an attractive type of fluorescent labels for biological applications such as protein probes and cell imaging. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CdSe and CdSe/CdS core–shell QDs: New approach for synthesis,investigating optical properties and application in pollutant degradation

In this work, CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized by a simple and rapid microwave activated approach using CdSO₄, Na₂SeO₃ as precursors and thioglycolic acid (TGA) as capping agent molecule. A novel photochemical approach was introduced for the growth of CdS QDs and this approach was used to grow a CdS shell around CdSe cores for the formation of a CdSe/CdS core–shell structure. The core–shells were structurally verified using X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and FTIR (Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR)) spectroscopy. The optical properties of the samples were examined by means of UV–Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. It was found that CdS QDs emit a broad band white luminescence between 400 to 700 nm with a peak located at about 510 nm. CdSe QDs emission contained a broad band resulting from trap states between 450 to 800 nm with a peak located at 600 nm. After CdS shell growth, trap states emission was considerably quenched and a near band edge emission was appeared about 480 nm. Optical studies revealed that the core–shell QDs possess strong ultraviolet (UV) ? visible light photocatalytic activity. CdSe/CdS core–shell QDs, showed an enhancement in photodegradation of Methyl orange (MO) compared with CdSe QDs.     

Study of photoluminescence characteristics of CdSe quantum dots hybridized with Cu nanowires

The photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of semiconductor CdSe quantum dots (QDs) aggregated on Cu nanowires (NWs) were studied in detail. The PL relaxation dynamic data show that Cu NWs improve the PL intensity of CdSe QDs by accelerating the emission relaxation rate. The temperature‐dependent PL data and excitation intensity‐dependent PL data suggest that the activation energy of CdSe QDs might decrease due to the excellent heat transfer properties and the plasmon effect of Cu NWs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Graphene‐amplified electrogenerated chemiluminescence of CdTe quantum dots for H2O2 sensing

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of thiol‐capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution was greatly enhanced by PDDA‐protected graphene (P‐GR) film that were used for the sensitive detection of H₂O₂. When the potential was cycled between 0 and ?2.3 V, two ECL peaks were observed at ?1.1 (ECL‐1) and ?1.4 V (ECL‐2) in pH 11.0, 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS), respectively. The electron‐transfer reaction between individual electrochemically‐reduced CdTe nanocrystal species and oxidant coreactants (H₂O₂ or reduced dissolved oxygen) led to the production of ECL‐1. While mass nanocrystals packed densely in the film were reduced electrochemically, assembly of reduced nanocrystal species reacted with coreactants to produce an ECL‐2 signal. ECL‐1 showed higher sensitivity for the detection of H₂O₂ concentrations than that of ECL‐2. Further, P‐GR film not only enhanced ECL intensity of CdTe QDs but also decreased its onset potential. Thus, a novel CdTe QDs ECL sensor was developed for sensing H₂O₂. Light intensity was linearly proportional to the concentration of H₂O₂ between 1.0 × 10^?5 and 2.0 x 10^‐7 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 9.8 x 10^?8 mol L^?1. The P‐GR thin‐film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) displayed acceptable reproducibility and long‐term stability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CdSe量子点荧光猝灭法测定尿嘧啶

以CdSe量子点为荧光探针,基于荧光猝灭法对碱基尿嘧啶进行了定量检测,考察了缓冲液体系、反应时间、量子点浓度等多种因素的影响. 实验结果表明,在pH 7.4的0.2 mol/L Na₂HPO₄-NaH₂PO₄缓冲液中,反应时间为60 min,尿嘧啶浓度为10^-6～10^-4mol/L范围时,其线性回归方程为F₀/F =0.992+3.35×10⁴Q (mol/L),检测限为3.23×10^-6 mol/L(即0.36μg/ml). 该方法检测范围宽,灵敏度高,为尿嘧啶的测定提供了新的方法.     

Highly sensitive electrochemical detection of potential cytotoxicity of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots using neural cell chip

Cell chip was recently developed as a simple and highly sensitive tool for the toxicity assessment of various kinds of chemicals or nano-materials. Here, we report newly discovered potential cytotoxic effects of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) on intracellular redox environment of neural cancer cells at very low concentrations which can be only detected by cell chip technology. Green (2.1 nm in diameter) and red (6.3 nm in diameter) QDs capped with cysteamine (CA) or thioglycolic acid (TA) were found to be toxic at 100 μg/mL when assessed by trypan blue and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). However, in case of concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, toxic effects of TA-capped QDs on human neural cells were only measured by DPV method when conventional MTT assay did not show toxicity of TA-capped QDs at low concentrations (1-10 μg/mL). Red-TA QDs and Green-TA QDs were found to decrease electrochemical signals from cells at 10 μg/mL and 5 μg/mL, respectively, while cell viability decreased at 100 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL when assessed by MTT assay, respectively. The relative decreases of cell viability determined by MTT assay were 15% and 11.9% when cells were treated with 5-50 μg/mL of Red-TA QDs and 5-30 μg/mL of Green-TA QDs, respectively. However, DPV signals decreased 37.5% and 39.2% at the same concentration range, respectively. This means that redox environment of cells is more sensitive than other components and can be easily affected by CdSe/ZnS QDs even at low concentrations. Thus, our proposed neural cell chip can be applied to detect potential cytotoxicity of various kinds of molecular imaging agents simply and accurately.     

Indirect electrochemiluminescence detection of lysine and histidine separated by capillary electrophoresis based on charge displacement

Indirect electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection was applied for the analysis of lysine (Lys) and histidine (His) separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE). With the most effective electrophoretic buffer system, which contained 15 mM phosphate buffer (pH = 5.8) and 0.5 mM Tripropylamine (TPA), fast separation of the two basic amino acids could be performed within 7 min. The linear ranges were 10–35 μM, 35–150 μM for Lys; and 5–35 μM, 35–150 μM for His. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were 0.3 μM for Lys and 1.0 μM for His, respectively. The proposed method was also successfully used for the determination of Lys in the oral pharmaceutical formulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Composite of CdTe quantum dots and molecularly imprinted polymer as a sensing material for cytochrome c

A newly designed molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) material was fabricated and successfully utilized as recognition element to develop a quantum dots (QDs) based MIP-coated composite for selective recognition of the template cytochrome c (Cyt). The composites were synthesized by sol-gel reaction (imprinting process). The imprinting process resulted in an increased affinity of the composites toward the corresponding template. The fluorescence of MIP-coated QDs was stronger quenched by the template versus that of non-imprinted polymer (NIP)-coated QDs, which indicated the composites could recognize the corresponding template. The results of specific experiments further exhibited the recognition ability of the composites. Under optimum conditions, the linear range for Cyt is from 0.97 μM to 24 μM, and the detection limit is 0.41 μM. The new composites integrated the high selectivity of molecular imprinting technology and fluorescence property of QDs and could convert the specific interactions between imprinted cavities and corresponding template to the obvious changes of fluorescence signal. Therefore, a simple and selective sensing system for protein recognition has been realized.     

Sodium 4‐mercaptophenolate capped CdSe/ZnS quantum dots as a fluorescent probe for pH detection in acidic aqueous media

Development of the fluorescent pH detection method is promising due to the sensitivity, easy operation, and low‐cost, etc. However, traditional organic fluorophores have still some disadvantages such as the tedious preparation and purification as well as low photostability and water solubility, which limits the rapid detection application. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently risen to prominence as an alternative for organic fluorophores in fluorescence analysis by virtue of their convenient synthesis and superior optical properties. In this study, we report on sodium 4‐mercaptophenolate functionalized CdSe/ZnS QDs (denoted as ^?OPhS‐QDs), which can serve as a selective “on–off” fluorescence probe for aqueous media pH. ^?OPhS‐QDs exhibit strong fluorescence in near neutral medium. As a Lewis organic base, ^?OPhS‐ moieties on QDs surface easily binds to proton under acidic conditions to yield 4‐mercaptophenol capped QDs (i.e. HOPhS‐QDs), which acts as an efficient hole trapper. As a result, the QDs photoluminescence (PL) is switched off. Under optimal conditions, the present probe exhibits a good linear relationship between fluorescence response and pH values in the pH range 3.0–5.2. Furthermore, the present probe exhibits a high selectivity for proton over other common cations and has been successfully used for pH detection in real water samples.