Title: Determination of zinc in aqueous solution using CdSe/ZnS quantum dots functionalised with [carboxymethyl-(4-mercapto-phenyl)-amino]-acetate

Authors: John F. Callan, Bridgeen McCaughan, Ray C. Mulrooney, Sukanta Kamila

Addresses: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, U.K. BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland. ' School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, U.K. AB10 1FR, Scotland. ' School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, U.K. AB10 1FR, Scotland. ' School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, U.K. AB10 1FR, Scotland

Abstract: CdSe/ZnS quantum dots functionalised with [Carboxymethyl-(4-mercapto-phenyl)-amino]-acetate displayed selectivity for Zn₂₊ ion when tested against a range of other commonly available metal ions in buffered aqueous solution (pH 7.0 ± 0.1). The probe displayed an enhancement in its fluorescence intensity upon addition of Zn₂₊ attributed to a cancellation of a photoinduced electron transfer process from the bound receptor to the excited quantum dot that otherwise led to non-radiative decay. Good linearity was established for Zn₂₊ in the 0.2 to 5.0 mM range.

Keywords: quantum dots; fluorescence; luminescent sensors; zinc sulphide; nanotechnology; cadmium selenide; photoinduced electron transfer; PET sensors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBNN.2011.038463

International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2011 Vol.2 No.1, pp.3 - 11

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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