Poly thymine stabilized copper nanoclusters as a fluorescence probe for melamine sensing.

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Melamine contamination in food poses a significant health risk.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods for melamine are crucial for food safety.
• Existing detection methods may lack sensitivity or require complex procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, highly sensitive fluorescence probe for melamine detection.
• To utilize poly-thymine stabilized copper nanoclusters for this purpose.
• To assess the probe's performance and potential for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of poly-thymine stabilized copper nanoclusters.
• Investigation of the interaction between melamine and thymine via hydrogen bonding.
• Utilizing fluorescence enhancement as the detection signal for melamine.
• Quantification of melamine concentration and determination of detection limits.

Main Results:

• Poly-thymine stabilized copper nanoclusters exhibited significantly enhanced fluorescence upon binding with melamine.
• The fluorescence enhancement showed a linear relationship with melamine concentration in the range of 0.1 µM to 6 µM.
• A low detection limit of 95 nM was achieved, significantly below the safety limit.
• Successful detection of melamine in milk samples with good recovery rates.

Conclusions:

• Poly-thymine stabilized copper nanoclusters serve as an effective and sensitive fluorescence probe for melamine.
• The developed method demonstrates high potential for practical melamine sensing in food matrices.
• This approach offers a promising advancement in ensuring food safety and quality.