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Design and preparation of quantum dots fluorescent probes for in situ identification of Microthrix parvicella in bulking sludge

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Abstract

A series of quantum dots (QDs) fluorescent probes for the in situ identification of Microthrix parvicella (M. parvicella) in bulking sludge were designed and prepared. In the preparation of CdTe/CdS QDs, the 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-acid) and 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (16-acid) were used as the stabilizer. The prepared QDs probes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the results showed that the CdTe/CdS QDs formed a core-shell structure and the long carbon chain was successfully grafted onto its surface. And the three QDs probes had different crystallinity and particle size, which was due to the inhibition effect of long carbon chain. The optical properties test results showed that although the formed core-shell structure and long carbon chain affected the fluorescent intensity, adsorption, and emission spectra of the QDs probes, the probes B and C had a large stokes-shift of 82 and 101 nm, which was a benefit for their fluorescent labeling property. In the fluorescent identification of M. parvicella, the probes B and C effectively adsorbed onto the surface of M. parvicella through a hydrophobic bond, and then identified M. parvicella by their unique fluorescence. In addition, it was found that a better hydrophobic property resulted in better identification efficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin, 300384, China

    Xuening Fei & Wenke Sun

  2. School of Science, Tianjin Chengjian University, No. 26 Jinjing Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, China

    Xuening Fei, Lingyun Cao & Guozhi Jia

  3. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Xuening Fei, Xiumei Jiao & Dayong Lin

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  1. Xuening Fei
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Correspondence to Xuening Fei or Lingyun Cao.

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This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51178289).

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The author Xuening Fei declares that he has no conflict of interest.

The author Lingyun Cao declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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Fei, X., Sun, W., Cao, L. et al. Design and preparation of quantum dots fluorescent probes for in situ identification of Microthrix parvicella in bulking sludge. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 100, 961–968 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-7015-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-7015-1

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