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Updated: Nov 28, 2025
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
A fluorimetric testing strip for the visual evaluation of mercury in blood using copper nanoclusters with
Yuanyuan Cai1, Fengxiang Wang, Yue Hua
1Rizhao Key laboratory of Marine Medicine and Materials Application Technologies, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong 273165, P. R. China. huawang@qfnu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
A fluorimetric analytical method using test strips has been fabricated for detecting Hg2+ ions in blood by using copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) prepared via a biomineralization route. Unexpectedly, the as-prepared Cu NCs displayed greatly amplified red fluorescence once dispersed in DMSO, the intensity of which decreased specifically in the presence of Hg2+. Moreover, the resultant Cu NCs were deposited onto test strips to be further fast dried on superhydrophobic substrates in vacuum. The test strip-based fluorimetry can allow for the direct analysis of Hg2+ in blood in the linear concentration range of 0.10-1000 nM. Importantly, this solvent-enhanced fluorescence protocol for different metal probes such as Cu NCs promises extensive analysis applications for designing numerous fluorimetric platforms such as test strips.
