ZnS quantum dots as pH probes for study of enzyme reaction kinetics

Water soluble ZnS quantum dots (QDs) modified by mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) were used to determinate proton concentration in aqueous solutions by fluorescence spectroscopic technique. The results showed that the fluorescence of the water-soluble QDs could be quenched by proton concentration and the fluorescence intensity of the water-soluble QDs decreased linearly as the pH varied from 4.5 to 7.0. Based on this phenomenon, a convenient, rapid and specific method to determine of enzyme reaction kinetics was proposed. The modified ZnS QDs were successfully used as pH probes in monitoring the hydrolysis of glycidyl butyrate catalyzed by porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL). The proposed method was found to improve stability, sensitivity and a monitoring range for determination proton concentration as compared to the already described analytical methods based on p-Nitrophenoxide (PNP).

► ZnS QDs were used to determinate H+ by fluorescence spectroscopic technique.
► ZnS QDs were used as pH probes in monitoring the hydrolysis of glycidyl butyrate.
► This method improves stability, sensitivity, a monitoring range for determining H+.