Sensitive detection of biothiols and histidine based on the recovered fluorescence of the carbon quantum dots–Hg(II) system

• Carbon quantum dots-based probe was used for detection of GSH, Cys or His.
• The fluorescence of CQDs was quenched by Hg(II) and then recovered by GSH, Cys or His.
• No further surface modification or purification of CQDs was required.
• This sensor exhibits superior accuracy and sensitivity.
• The proposed method was simple in design, fast in operation.

In this paper, we presented a novel, rapid and highly sensitive sensor for glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys) and histidine (His) based on the recovered fluorescence of the carbon quantum dots (CQDs)–Hg(II) system. The CQDs were synthesized by microwave-assisted approach in one pot according to our previous report. The fluorescence of CQDs could be quenched in the presence of Hg(II) due to the coordination occurring between Hg(II) and functional groups on the surface of CQDs. Subsequently, the fluorescence of the CQDs–Hg(II) system was recovered gradually with the addition of GSH, Cys or His due to their stronger affinity with Hg(II). A good linear relationship was obtained from 0.10 to 20 μmol L−1 for GSH, from 0.20 to 45 μmol L−1 for Cys and from 0.50 to 60 μmol L−1 for His, respectively. This method has been successfully applied to the trace detection of GSH, Cys or His in human serum samples with satisfactory results. The proposed method was simple in design and fast in operation, which demonstrated great potential in bio-sensing fields.

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