A Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Folic Acid Detection Based on D-penicillamine Stabilized Ag/Cu Alloy Nanoclusters

Sai Mei Zhang; Jiang Xue Dong; Xiao Li Wu; Yong Sen Zhao; Yan Lei Li; Shou Lin Wang; Yang Yang; Miao An; Ming Su; Rong Ya Shi; Zhong Feng Gao

doi:10.1002/cbic.202400254

A Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Folic Acid Detection Based on D-penicillamine Stabilized Ag/Cu Alloy Nanoclusters

Chembiochem. 2024 May 16:e202400254. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202400254. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sai Mei Zhang¹, Jiang Xue Dong¹, Xiao Li Wu¹, Yong Sen Zhao², Yan Lei Li³, Shou Lin Wang¹, Yang Yang¹, Miao An¹, Ming Su¹, Rong Ya Shi⁴, Zhong Feng Gao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Hebei University, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, CHINA.
² University of Jinan, Key Laboratory of Interfacial Reaction & Sensing Analysis in Universities of Shandong, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, CHINA.
³ University of Jinan, Key Laboratory of Interfacial Reaction & Sensing Analysis in Universities of Shandong, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, CHINA.
⁴ Baoding People's Hospital, Difficult and Severe Liver Disease Center, CHINA.
⁵ University of Jinan, school of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 336 Nanxinzhuang West Road, Jinan City, Shandong Province, 250024, Jinan, CHINA.

PMID: 38757240
DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400254

Abstract

In this work, a highly sensitive and selective method for detecting folic acid (FA) was developed using D-penicillamine (DPA) stabilized Ag/Cu alloy nanoclusters (DPA@Ag/Cu NCs). The yellow emission of DPA@Ag/Cu NCs was found to be quenched upon the addition of FA to the system. The fluorescence intensity quenching value demonstrated a linear relationship with FA concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1200 μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.3 nM. Furthermore, the detection mechanism was investigated through various characterization analyses, including high resolution transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence spectra, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, and fluorescence lifetime. The results indicated that the fluorescence quenching induced by FA was a result of electron transfer from FA to the ligands of DPA@Ag/Cu NCs. The selectivity of the FA sensor was also evaluated, showing that common amino acids and inorganic ions had minimal impact on the detection of FA. Moreover, the standard addition method was successfully applied to detect FA in human serum, chewable tablets and FA tablets with promising results. The use of DPA@Ag/Cu NCs demonstrates significant potential for detecting FA in complex biological samples.

Keywords: Alloy nanoclusters; Fluorescent sensor; Folic acid; Functional nanosensor.