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A simple and accurate ratiometric sensor for determination of dopamine based on dual-emission carbon dots

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Abstract

Dopamine (DA) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays critical roles in many biological processes. The dysfunctions of the DA system are closely associated with several nervous system diseases. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a simple and accurate method for DA analysis. In this study, an economic and accurate DA ratiometric sensor was established using dual-emission carbon dots (DE-CDs). DE-CDs were first synthesized by the one-step solvothermal method and two separate fluorescence emission peaks at 340 and 500 nm were observed under the excitation of 310 nm. In the presence of Hg2+, the fluorescence signal at 340 nm was significantly quenched, while the signal at 500 nm keeps stable. Upon adding DA, the quenched signal at 340 nm was significantly recovered, whereas the signal at 500 nm remains stable. Therefore, a novel ratiometric sensor for DA analysis was established. This method shows a good linear range from 500 nM to 100 μM, and the detection limit was calculated to be 80 nM. Moreover, this established method shows excellent specificity and could be applied in real sample analysis, showing great potential for application in clinical research.

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Data availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its Supplementary Information files. Should any raw data files be needed in another format, they are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China, 22264023, Lingbo Sun, Scientific Research Projects of Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government, 22JK0614, Yuecheng Zhang, Health Research Project of Shaanxi Province, 2022E019, Lingbo Sun, PhD start-up fund of Yan’an University, YDBK2020-30, Lingbo Sun, YDBK2022-15, Yuecheng Zhang.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology and Detection of Yan’an, Yan’an University, Yan’an, 716000, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Yuecheng Zhang, Chengjia Li, Jing Ma, Shiyu Zhang, QingQing Wang & Hongyan Ma

  2. Medical College of Yan’an University, Yan’an University, Yan’an, 716000, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Lingbo Sun

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  1. Yuecheng Zhang
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  7. Hongyan Ma
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Correspondence to Lingbo Sun or Hongyan Ma.

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Zhang, Y., Sun, L., Li, C. et al. A simple and accurate ratiometric sensor for determination of dopamine based on dual-emission carbon dots. ANAL. SCI. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44211-023-00492-5

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