Abstract
Household storage of pharmaceuticals to extract raw materials synthesized from carbon points facilitates the utilization of solid waste resources. A novel ratiometric fluorescence sensing technique was developed to ascertain the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in fruits and vegetables. The method employed a fluorescent probe, synthesized from expired amoxicillin (referred to as carbon dots, or A-CDs), serving as a reference fluorophore. Additionally, 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) was utilized as a specific response signal. DAP resulted from a catalytic reaction system involving phenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide under the catalysis of HRP. The fluorescence intensity corresponding to DAP at 562 nm exhibited a substantial increase, simultaneous with the fluorescence quenching of A-CDs at 450 nm. The ratiometric fluorescence nanosensors displayed a broad linear range and high sensitivity for the detection of HRP. Across the concentration range 0.01 to 6 U L−1, the fluorescence intensity ratio between DAP and A-CDs demonstrated a proportional increase with rising HRP concentration, achieving an impressive detection limit of 0.002 U L−1. The recovery of HRP in fruit and vegetable samples ranged from 96.1 to 103%, with an RSD value of less than 3.8%. The proposed method facilitated the screening of inhibitors of HRP enzyme activity, contributing to the preservation of freshness in fruits and vegetables.
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This study received financial support from Sichuan Science and Technology Program No. 2023NSFSC0637.
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Wei Wu: Conceptualization, investigation, methodology, writing—original draft. Yuhan Shi: Investigation, methodology. Jingya Liu, Xiaoyu Liu, Hao Liu, Tao Wang: Investigation, methodology. Guoqi Zhang: Software, visualization, supervision. Zhihong Xu: Conceptualization, supervision.
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Wu, W., Shi, Y., Liu, J. et al. Carbon dots derived from expired drugs based ratiometric fluorescent sensor for horseradish peroxidase in fruits and vegetables and screening inhibitors. Microchim Acta 191, 109 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-023-06160-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-023-06160-9