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Aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles for mercury ion detection in a colorimetric assay based on color change time as signal readout

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Abstract

A universal strategy for a rapid colorimetric method for Hg2+ in an aqueous solution is described. The specific binding of Hg2+ (thymine-Hg2+-thymine) with thiolated DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via Au–S bonds increases the spatial hindrance of the AuNP surface, resulting in a weakened catalytic ability of AuNPs to catalyze the reaction between p-nitrophenol and NaBH4. Therefore, the color change time (CCT) of the solution from yellow to colorless becomes longer. Based on the kinetic curve of absorbance over time measured by a UV spectrometer, the level of Hg2+ in aqueous solutions can be easily quantified. A linear relationship between CCT and Hg2+ concentration was obtained in the 10–600-nM range with a detection limit of 0.20 nM, which is much lower than the limit value (10 nM) defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency for Hg2+ in drinking water. The excellent sensitivity comes from CCT as the signal output of the probe, rather than the absorbance or wavelength change used in traditional colorimetric probes as the signal output.

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The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or its supplementary materials].

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Funding

The authors received financial support from the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China (No. 2017A020212003) and the Scientific Research Project of Gaoming Water Supply Co., Ltd. of Foshan Water Industry Group, China (No. GS2018010106A).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510655, China

    Bin Cai, Tingyan Ren & Xiaowei Yu

  2. Institute of Resources Utilization and Rare Earth Development, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Wendong Lv

  3. School of Chemistry, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Yong Liang

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  1. Bin Cai
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  2. Tingyan Ren
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  3. Xiaowei Yu
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  4. Wendong Lv
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Correspondence to Wendong Lv or Yong Liang.

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Cai, B., Ren, T., Yu, X. et al. Aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles for mercury ion detection in a colorimetric assay based on color change time as signal readout. Microchim Acta 191, 74 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-023-06142-x

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