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Turn-on fluorometric NADPH assay using orange emitting graphene oxide quantum dots

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Abstract

The authors describe a method for synthesizing graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) possessing orange fluorescence with emission wavelength that can be tuned over the range from 537 to 593 nm by variation of the excitation wavelength. The GOQD display peroxidase-mimicking catalytic activity. Specifically, they catalyze the oxidation of dopamine to produce 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-quinone (AQ) which is colored and can quench the fluorescence of GOQDs. However, quenching is reversed by addition of NADP+, but not by its reduced form (NADPH). Based on these findings, an assay was worked out to monitor enzymatic reactions involving NADP+. The method allows NADPH to be detected in the 2–175 μM concentration range, with a 0.6 μM detection limit.

Schematic of a top-down method for synthesizing fluorescent graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQD) by chemical degrading, exfoliation and self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO). The GOQDs display peroxidase-like activity and can oxidize dopamine to form a colored quinone that quenches the fluorescence of the GOQDs. The quenching efficiency is reduced, however, in the presence of NADP+.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21075050 and 21275063), the Science and Technology Development project of Jilin province, China (No. 20150204010GX).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China

    Weidan Na, Tianyu Hu & Xingguang Su

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  1. Weidan Na
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  2. Tianyu Hu
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  3. Xingguang Su
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Correspondence to Xingguang Su.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Na, W., Hu, T. & Su, X. Turn-on fluorometric NADPH assay using orange emitting graphene oxide quantum dots. Microchim Acta 184, 4571–4578 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2490-y

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