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Reversible Fluorescence Probe Based on N-Doped Carbon Dots for the Determination of Mercury Ion and Glutathione in Waters and Living Cells

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Abstract

An “on-off-on” mode was developed for the detection of mercury ion (Hg2+) and glutathione (GSH) with high sensitivity and selectivity based on the nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) fluorescent probe. The N-CDs were synthesized through microwave treatment of citric acid and diethylenetriamine for 2 min, and exhibited excellent fluorescence properties and high quantum yield (27.7%). The fluorescence intensity of the N-CDs could be significantly quenched by Hg2+ (turn-off). Upon addition of GSH, the fluorescence intensity of the N-CDs-Hg2+ system could be recovered clearly (turn-on). The limit of detection of Hg2+ and GSH was 23 and 59 nM, respectively. Moreover, the “on-off-on” probe was successfully applied to the determination of Hg2+ in tap water and water from the Yellow River. Meanwhile, due to bright luminescence, good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, the N-CDs-based probe was successfully employed as visualizing the intracellular Hg2+ and GSH sensors in live HeLa cell.

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Acknowledgments

The authors also thank Prof. Hongli Chen and Prof. Xingguo Chen for the helpful discussion on the preparation of materials and the sensing procedure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. P]China

    Xiaohan Sun, Shenghong Yang, Mingzhen Guo, Shuang Ma, Mingda Zheng & Jiang He

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  1. Xiaohan Sun
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  2. Shenghong Yang
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  3. Mingzhen Guo
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  4. Shuang Ma
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  5. Mingda Zheng
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  6. Jiang He
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Correspondence to Jiang He.

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Sun, X., Yang, S., Guo, M. et al. Reversible Fluorescence Probe Based on N-Doped Carbon Dots for the Determination of Mercury Ion and Glutathione in Waters and Living Cells. ANAL. SCI. 33, 761–767 (2017). https://doi.org/10.2116/analsci.33.761

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2116/analsci.33.761

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