A triclosan turn-ON fluorescence sensor based on thiol-capped core/shell quantum dots.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Triclosan (TCS) is a widespread antimicrobial agent in personal care products, leading to its accumulation in wastewater and water bodies.
• Effective monitoring of TCS in aquatic environments is crucial due to potential ecological impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize core-shell structured GSH-CdSe/ZnS fluorescent quantum dots (QDs).
• To develop a sensitive and selective "turn on" fluorescence probe for the detection and quantification of TCS in water samples.

Main Methods:

• Organometallic synthesis of GSH-CdSe/ZnS QDs with a thiol ligand.
• Characterization of QD photostability and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY).
• Utilizing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for TCS detection via fluorescence enhancement.

Main Results:

• GSH-CdSe/ZnS QDs exhibited high photostability and an 89% PLQY.
• TCS introduction enhanced QD fluorescence, enabling a "turn on" sensing mechanism.
• A linear detection range of 10-300 nmol/L was achieved with low limits of detection (3.7 nmol/L) and quantification (12.4 nmol/L).
• The probe showed excellent recovery rates (94%-117.5%) in real tap and river water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed GSH-CdSe/ZnS QD-based probe is highly effective for sensitive and accurate determination of TCS.
• This novel sensor demonstrates significant potential for environmental monitoring of triclosan contamination in water sources.