An ultrasensitive fluorescence sensor for determination of trace levels of copper in blood samples

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2019-08, Vol.411 (21), p.5593-5603
• Main Authors: Vojoudi, Hossein, Bastan, Bahareh, Ghasemi, Jahan B., Badiei, Alireza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Analytical Chemistry; Aqueous solutions; Biochemistry; Blood; Carbonyl compounds; Carbonyls; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper; Copper compounds; Diffraction; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Energy transmission; Field emission microscopy; Field emission spectroscopy; Fluorescence; Food Science; Fourier transforms; Infrared spectroscopy; Ions; Laboratory Medicine; Masking; Microscopy; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Research Paper; Scanning electron microscopy; Selectivity; Sensors; Spectrum analysis; Thermogravimetric analysis; Trace levels; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; X-ray spectroscopy; X-rays
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-01940-w

A novel SBA-15-based fluorescent sensor, SBA-PI: mesoporous SBA-15 structure modified with iminostilbene groups, was designed, synthesized, and characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), low-angle X-ray diffraction techniques (low-angle XRD), and N 2 adsorption–desorption techniques. The SBA-PI as a sensor with a selective behavior for detection of Cu 2+ comprises iminostilbene carbonyl as the fluorophore group. The SBA-PI sensor displays an excellent fluorescence response in aqueous solutions and the fluorescence intensity quenches remarkably upon addition of Cu 2+ . Other common interfering ions even at high concentration ratio showed either no or very small changes in the fluorescence intensity of SBA-PI in the absence of Cu 2+ . A limit of detection of 8.7 × 10 −9  M for Cu 2+ indicated that this fluorescence sensor has a high sensitivity and selectivity toward the target copper (II) ion. The fabricated Cu 2+ sensor was successfully applied for the determination of the Cu 2+ in human blood samples without any significant interference. With the selective analysis of Cu 2+ ions down to 0.9 nM in blood, the sensor is a promising and a novel detection candidate for Cu 2+ and can be applied in the clinical laboratory. A reversibility and accuracy in the fluorescence behavior of the sensor was found in the presence of I ¯ that was described as a masking agent for Cu 2+ . Graphical abstract