Sensitive detection of sodium cromoglycate with glutathione-capped CdTe quantum dots as a novel fluorescence probe

A sensitive and simple analytical strategy for the detection of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) has been established based on a readily detectable fluorescence quenching effect of SCG for glutathione-capped (GSH-capped) CdTe quantum dots (QDs). The fluorescence of GSH-capped CdTe QDs could be efficiently quenched by SCG through electron transfer from GSH-capped CdTe QDs to SCG. Under optimum conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of SCG between 0.6419 and 100 µg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9964; the detection limit (3δ/K) was 0.1926 µg/mL. The optimum conditions and the influence of coexisting foreign substances on the reaction were also investigated. The very effective and simple method reported here has been successfully applied to the determination of SCG in synthetic and real samples. It is believed that the established approach could have good prospects for application in the fields of clinical diseases diagnosis and treatment.