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An ascorbic acid sensor based on cadmium sulphide quantum dots

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Abstract

We present a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based fluorescence detection of vitamin C [ascorbic acid (AA)] using cadmium sulphide quantum dots (CdS QDs) and diphenylcarbazide (DPC). Initially, DPC was converted to diphenylcarbadiazone (DPCD) in the presence of CdS QDs to form QD–DPCD. This enabled excited-state energy transfer from the QDs to DPCD, which led to the fluorescence quenching of QDs. The QD–DPCD solution was used as the sensor solution. In the presence of AA, DPCD was converted back to DPC, resulting in the fluorescence recovery of CdS QDs. This fluorescence recovery can be used to detect and quantify AA. Dynamic range and detection limit of this sensing system were found to be 60–300 nM and 2 nM, respectively. We also performed fluorescence lifetime analyses to confirm existence of FRET. Finally, the sensor responded with equal accuracy to actual samples such as orange juice and vitamin C tablets.

Schematic showing the FRET based fluorescence detection of ascorbic acid

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank IIST Thiruvananthapuram for funding and IIT Madras for characterisation studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Valiamala P.O., Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695547, India

    Manjunatha Ganiga & Jobin Cyriac

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  1. Manjunatha Ganiga
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  2. Jobin Cyriac
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Correspondence to Jobin Cyriac.

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Ganiga, M., Cyriac, J. An ascorbic acid sensor based on cadmium sulphide quantum dots. Anal Bioanal Chem 408, 3699–3706 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9454-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9454-7

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