A Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe Based on Carbon Dots and Quantum Dots for Glucose Detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Stable glucose levels are vital for physiological function, with abnormalities linked to diseases like diabetes.
• Accurate and rapid glucose detection is crucial for clinical diagnostics and health management.
• Current methods necessitate improved sensitivity and specificity for effective disease monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective glucose detection.
• To utilize carbon dots (oCDs) and quantum dots (rQDs) for signal generation and referencing.
• To validate the probe's performance in detecting glucose in human serum samples.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a ratiometric fluorescent probe using orange-emitting carbon dots (oCDs) and red-emitting quantum dots (rQDs).
• Employed glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for enzymatic conversion of glucose to hydrogen peroxide.
• Quantified glucose by monitoring the fluorescence intensity ratio (I590/I715) of oCDs to rQDs, correlating with glucose concentration.

Main Results:

• The probe demonstrated a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.47 µM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.58 µM.
• The ratiometric fluorescence intensity ratio directly correlated with glucose concentration.
• Successfully applied the validated probe for glucose detection in human serum samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed ratiometric fluorescent probe provides an accurate and sensitive method for glucose detection.
• This technology offers a promising tool for the early diagnosis and management of metabolic diseases, particularly diabetes.
• The probe's application in human serum highlights its clinical relevance and potential for widespread use in health monitoring.