Molybdenum disulfide quantum dots for rapid fluorescence detection of glutathione and ascorbic acid

A method for the specific detection of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) using 3-aminophenylboronic acid functionalized molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (APBA-MoS₂ QDs) was reported. The APBA-MoS₂ QDs synthesized using the hydrothermal method showed the strongest fluorescence intensity at an emission wavelength of 375 nm with the optimum excitation wavelength of 320 nm. The detection method was constructed by the combination of the dynamic and static quenching and the inner filter effect (IFE) of APBA-MoS₂ QDs by permanganate (MnO₄^-) and the rapid redox reaction (1 min) of MnO₄^- by GSH or AA. The concentrations of GSH and AA showed good linear ranges of 10-500 μM and 10-100 μM, respectively, with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.476 μM and 0.185 μM, respectively. The spiked recovery tests in human serum and fresh fruit samples showed that APBA-MoS₂ QDs had significant potential in the construction of fluorescent biological detection methods.