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Green fluorescent carbon quantum dots functionalized with polyethyleneimine, and their application to aptamer-based determination of thrombin and ATP

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Abstract

Brightly fluorescent carbon quantum dots coated with polyethylenimine (PEI-CDs) were prepared using malic acid and PEI as the precursors. The PEI-CDs have a high quantum yield (41%) and green emission (peaking at 502 nm under 430 nm excitation), both of which are not affected by high ionic strength. The PEI-CDs have a positive charge at physiological pH values and can electrostatically bind aptamers with their negative charge. This is shown for aptamers binding thrombin or ATP. Binding of aptamers results in quenching of fluorescence. If thrombin or ATP are introduced, the respective aptamer will bind them, and the complex is then released from the PEI-CDs. Fluorescence increases in proportion to the analyte concentration. Under optimized conditions, thrombin and ATP can be sensitively and selectively detected by fluorometry with lower detection limits of 1.2 and 13 nM, respectively. The assay was successfully applied to the determination of thrombin and of ATP in spiked serum samples.

Green fluorescent carbon quantum dots were functionalized with polyethyleneimine. They were applied to aptamer-based determination of thrombin and ATP. The PEI-functionalized carbon quantum dots (PEI-CDs) have bright green fluorescence are were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal treatment of malic acid and PEI. Employing the PEI-CDs, a fluorometric aptamer-based assay was developed for the determination of thrombin and ATP.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21773150), the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (2018JM2045).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Xianyang Normal University, Xianyang, 712000, China

    Ying Guo, Juncai Zhang & Weihong Zhang

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710062, China

    Daodao Hu

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  1. Ying Guo
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  2. Juncai Zhang
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  3. Weihong Zhang
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  4. Daodao Hu
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Correspondence to Ying Guo.

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Guo, Y., Zhang, J., Zhang, W. et al. Green fluorescent carbon quantum dots functionalized with polyethyleneimine, and their application to aptamer-based determination of thrombin and ATP. Microchim Acta 186, 717 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-019-3874-y

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