Colorimetric determination of glutathione in human serum and cell lines by exploiting the peroxidase-like activity of CuS-polydopamine-Au composite

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2018-08, Vol.410 (20), p.4805-4813
• Main Authors: Wang, Yanying, Liu, Yaqin, Ding, Fang, Zhu, Xiaoyan, Yang, Li, Zou, Ping, Rao, Hanbing, Zhao, Qingbiao, Wang, Xianxiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biochemistry; Biotechnology; Cell Line; Cell lines; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical properties; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Color; Colorimetry; Colorimetry - methods; Composite materials; Copper - chemistry; Copper sulfides; Food Science; Glutathione; Glutathione - blood; Glutathione - metabolism; Gold; Gold - chemistry; Humans; Indoles - chemistry; Laboratory Medicine; Limit of Detection; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Methods; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nanoparticles; Peroxidase; Peroxidases - metabolism; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; Polymers - chemistry; Research Paper; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Ultraviolet spectroscopy; Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-1117-4

In this study, we developed a simple colorimetric approach to detect glutathione (GSH). The proposed approach is based on the ability of CuS-PDA-Au composite material to catalytically oxidize 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to ox-TMB to induce a blue color with an absorption peak centered at 652 nm. However, the introduction of GSH can result in a decrease in oxidized TMB; similarly, it can combine with Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the surface of CuS-PDA-Au composite material. Both approaches can result in a fading blue color and a reduction of the absorbance at 652 nm. Based on this above, we proposed a technique to detect GSH quantitatively and qualitatively through UV-Vis spectroscopy and naked eye, respectively. This approach demonstrates a low detection limit of 0.42 μM with a broad detection range of 5 × 10 −7 –1 × 10 −4  M with the assistance of UV-Vis spectroscopy. More importantly, this approach is convenient and rapid. This method was successfully applied to GSH detection in human serum and cell lines. Graphical abstract A colorimetric approach has been developed by exploiting the peroxidase-like activity of CuS-polydopamine-Au composite for sensitive glutathione detection.