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A ratiometric fluorescence sensor for ultra-sensitive detection of trypsin inhibitor in soybean flour using gold nanocluster@carbon nitride quantum dots

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Abstract

Gold nanocluster@carbon nitride quantum dot nanocomposites protected by bovine serum albumin (BSA-AuNC@CNQDs) were designed as a ratiometric fluorescence nanosensor for ultra-sensitive detection of trypsin inhibitor (TI). CNQDs were prepared via thermal treatment of carbon nitride powder. BSA-CNQDs acted as templates to synthesize BSA-AuNC@CNQDs with dual-emission peaks at 450 and 650 nm. Trypsin can catalyze the hydrolysis of BSA and decompose BSA-AuNC@CNQDs resulting in fluorescence quenching. The fluorescence quenching at 650 nm was prevented by the addition of TI to inhibit the activity of trypsin. The nanosensor-trypsin system showed a satisfactory ability toward TI detection. The ratiometric responses (the ratio of intensity at 650 to 450 nm, I650/I450) had an excellent linearity (R2 = 0.981) with logarithmic values of TI concentrations in the broad range of 1–10,000 ng/mL. The limit of detection (LOD, 0.089 ng/mL) indicates ultra-sensitive detection of TI can be achieved. Additionally, TI in soybean flour was detected by the proposed ratiometric method with satisfactory recoveries (98.15–105.52%) and less than 6% of coefficient of variation. This study reveals that BSA-AuNC@CNQDs have potential applications in detection of TI in real samples.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31671844, 31601543, and 31601543), National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China (2018YFD0400803, 2017YFC1600805, 2017YFC1600806, 2016YFD0401104, and 2017YFD0400102-3), and Six Talent Peaks Project in Jiangsu Province (GDZB-016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China

    Xuetao Hu, Jiyong Shi, Yongqiang Shi, Wenting Li, Muhammad Arslan, Wen Zhang, Xiaowei Huang, Zhihua Li, Yiwei Xu, Yanxiao Li & Xiaobo Zou

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  1. Xuetao Hu
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  2. Jiyong Shi
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  3. Yongqiang Shi
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  4. Wenting Li
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  5. Muhammad Arslan
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  6. Wen Zhang
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  7. Xiaowei Huang
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  8. Zhihua Li
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  9. Yiwei Xu
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  10. Yanxiao Li
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Correspondence to Yanxiao Li or Xiaobo Zou.

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Hu, X., Shi, J., Shi, Y. et al. A ratiometric fluorescence sensor for ultra-sensitive detection of trypsin inhibitor in soybean flour using gold nanocluster@carbon nitride quantum dots. Anal Bioanal Chem 411, 3341–3351 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01806-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01806-1

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