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C-Phycoerythrin as a Colorimetric and Fluorometric Probe for the Sensitive, Selective and Quantitative Detection of Cu2+ in Aqueous Samples

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Abstract

C-phycoerythrin (CPE) was investigated as a colorimetric and fluorometric quantitative sensor for Cu2+ ions in an aqueous medium. UV – visible studies with 50 μM concentration of different metals were carried out with only Cu and Ag showing changes in the absorption spectra. Fluorescence emission studies showed similar results. UV – visible titration of CPE with different [Cu] resulted in a linear relationship within 10 μM Cu and a ‘naked eye’ visible difference in colour, most likely due to the formation of a CPE – Cu complex. Fluorescence emission of CPE was quenched rapidly within 5 min of mixing. Fluorescence emission titration studies revealed gradually decreasing CPE emission with increasing [Cu] with a Stern – Volmer constant of 2.5 × 104 M−1 and a detection limit of 5 μM.. CPE was selective for Cu even in the presence of different metals which were 5 times the concentration of Cu; it was also effective in aqueous samples spiked with Cu. FTIR studies showed considerable changes in the amide III, indicating side chain interactions, even as the protein backbone remained largely unaffected.

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Acknowledgements

The manuscript has been assigned registration number CSIR-CSMCRI – 031/2018. TG would like to thank the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research for Ph. D. registration and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for financial support through its projects (OLP 0040, CSC 0105). AV would like to thank Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore and CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute for the opportunity to conduct her dissertation. KB would like to thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for financial support (CSC 0203) and Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University for Ph. D. registration. All the authors are highly grateful to AESDCIF, CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar for providing the instrumentation facilities and analysis.

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  1. Tonmoy Ghosh

    Present address: DBT - ICGEB Centre for Advanced Bioenergy Research, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biotechnology and Phycology, CSIR - Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India

    Tonmoy Ghosh, Khushbu Bhayani & Sandhya Mishra

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR - Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India

    Tonmoy Ghosh & Sandhya Mishra

  3. School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Khandwa Road, Bhanwar Kuwa, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 452001, India

    Apeksha Vyas

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Correspondence to Sandhya Mishra.

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Ghosh, T., Vyas, A., Bhayani, K. et al. C-Phycoerythrin as a Colorimetric and Fluorometric Probe for the Sensitive, Selective and Quantitative Detection of Cu2+ in Aqueous Samples. J Fluoresc 28, 671–680 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-018-2229-0

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