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Sensitive and selective detection of cysteine using gold nanoparticles as colorimetric probes
1Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, PR China.
Abstract:
We report herein the development of a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric detection method for cysteine using gold nanoparticles probes. This assay relies upon the distance-dependent optical properties of gold nanoparticles, the self-assembly of cysteine on gold nanoparticles, and the interaction of a 2:1 cysteine/Cu2+ complex. In the presence of Cu2+, cysteine could rapidly induce the aggregation of gold nanoparticles, thereby resulting in red-to-blue (or purple) color change. The concentration of cysteine can be determined by monitoring with the naked eye or a UV-vis spectrometer. The present limit of detection for cysteine is 10 nM. This method exhibits excellent selectivity for cysteine over other alpha-amino acids, glutathione, thioglycolic acid and mercaptoethyl alcohol.
