Graphene oxide-based fluorescent sensor for sensitive turn-on detection of sinapine

Sinapine (SP) has attracted extensive attention in food and medical field because it is a crucial component in many plants with unique physiological activities. Here, we reported a fluorescent sensor based on the unique properties of graphene oxide (GO) for rapid, sensitive detection of SP concentration. In this strategy, GO has stronger affinity toward SP and can be also served as a quencher for DNA fluorescence probe. The fluorescence can make a recovery by the addition of SP, which can competitively desorb probe from the surface of GO, and the SP can thus be monitored by recording the fluorescence change. Because of the low background assays and high quenching ability offered by GO, the developed method provides a great potential for plant-derived molecules research.