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Ratiometric sensing of butyrylcholinesterase activity based on the MnO2 nanosheet–modulated fluorescence of sulfur quantum dots and o-phenylenediamine

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Abstract

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) can modulate the expression level of cholinesterase, which emerges as an important clinical diagnose index. However, the currently reported assays for BChE are suffering from the problem of interferences. A ratiometric fluorescence assay was developed based on the MnO2 nanosheet (NS)–modulated fluorescence of sulfur quantum dots (S-dots) and o-phenylenediamine (OPD). MnO2 NS can not only quench the fluorescence of blue emissive S-dots, but also enhance the yellow emissive OPD by catalyzing its oxidation reactions. Upon introducing BChE and substrate into the system, their hydrolysate can reduce MnO2 into Mn2+, leading to the fluorescence recovery of S-dots and failure of OPD oxidation. BChE activity can be quantitatively detected by recording the change of fluorescence signals in the blue and yellow regions. A linear relationship is observed between the ratio of F435/F560 and the concentration of BChE in the range 30 to 500 U/L, and a limit of detection of 17.8 U/L has been calculated. The ratiometric fluorescence assay shows an excellent selectivity to acetylcholinesterase and tolerance to various other species. The method developed  provides good detection performances in human serum medium and for screening of  inhibitors.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21804030), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (B2020201082, B2019201067), the Outstanding Youth Project of N\atural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (B2020201060), One Hundred Talent Project of Hebei Province (E2019050011), the Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department (BJ2020033), and the Natural Science Interdisciplinary Research Program of Hebei University (DXK201906).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China

    Zerui Ma, Pan Li, Yu-e Shi, Yongqing Zhai & Zhenguang Wang

  2. Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, China

    Meng Jiao

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  1. Zerui Ma
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  2. Pan Li
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  3. Meng Jiao
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  4. Yu-e Shi
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Correspondence to Yu-e Shi or Zhenguang Wang.

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Ma, Z., Li, P., Jiao, M. et al. Ratiometric sensing of butyrylcholinesterase activity based on the MnO2 nanosheet–modulated fluorescence of sulfur quantum dots and o-phenylenediamine. Microchim Acta 188, 294 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-04949-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-04949-0

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