Bimetallic oxide Mg-Cu nanoparticles synthesis and application in photometric sensing of trypsin in the presence of tap water, ammonia, and glutamine

Abstract

The concentration of biomolecules such as trypsin and ammonia in bodily fluids are indicators of health conditions including pancreatic diseases and acute liver failure respectively. The maximum UV-Visible intensity and wavelength shifts of Mg-Cu bimetallic oxide nanoparticles (BNPs) were found to be proportional to changes in trypsin and ammonia concentration. The BNPs could selectively detect trypsin in tap water containing ions, ammonia, and glutamine at concentrations as low as 0.0003%v/v. The synthesis of Mg-Cu BNPs was accomplished by ablating a mixture of Mg and Cu powders and Mg and Cu colloids using a Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser in isopropanol alcohol and HCl. The BNPs demonstrated higher optical absorbance intensity in the UV-Visible range compared to their monometallic constituents, making them more suitable for use in biochemical sensing of trypsin and ammonia. The BNPs exhibited a massive 730-fold increase in electrical conductivity compared to monometallic Mg nanoparticles (0.001 mS/cm vs. 0.73 mS/cm). Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the NP morphologies, revealing pyramidal and quasi-spherical BNPs with diameters as small as 5 nm.