Redox-controlled synthesis of fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles for label-free detection of glutathione

Abstract

In this paper, fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) are synthesized by a simple, and environment-friendly method with the aid of the CoOOH nanosheets. The proposed synthetic strategy with the merit of convenient, effective and ecofriendly, which offer a novel design for the preparation of fluorescent PDA NPs. Remarkably, the obtained fluorescent PDA NPs exhibit excellent chemical stability and photostability. However, when GSH were present, the fluorescence intensity of PDA NPs could be decreased through the reduction of GSH on CoOOH nanosheets, thus the as-prepared PDA NPs were successfully utilized as a label-free nanoprobe for sensitively and selectively sensing GSH. Under optimal conditions, the fluorometric signal is linear ranging from 10 μM to 500 μM GSH concentration with a detection limit of 3.25 μM. The detection platform also showed good potential application value in human serum samples with satisfactory recoveries. • A simple, and environment-friendly method approach for the preparing of fluorescent PDA NPs through chemical oxidation of dopamine by using CoOOH nanosheets. • A convenient, effective and label-free fluorescence sensor for glutathione was established via redox-controlled the fluorescence intensity of PDA NPs. • The proposed redox-regulated preparation of fluorescent PDA NPs strategy holds a promising in glutathione-related basic research and disease diagnosis. Glutathione (GSH) plays critical roles in biological processes, which mainly maintain cellular redox homeostasis and resist oxidative damage, often be used as an important examination index for early human diseases. In this paper, fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) are synthesized by a simple, and environment-friendly method with the aid of the CoOOH nanosheets. The proposed synthetic strategy with the merit of convenient, effective and ecofriendly, which offer a novel design for the preparation of fluorescent PDA NPs. Remarkably, the obtained fluorescent PDA NPs exhibit excellent chemical stability and photostability. However, when GSH were present, the fluorescence intensity of PDA NPs could be decreased through the reduction of GSH on CoOOH nanosheets, thus the as-prepared PDA NPs were successfully utilized as a label-free nanoprobe for sensitively and selectively sensing GSH. Under optimal conditions, the fluorometric signal is linear ranging from 10 μM to 500 μM GSH concentration with a detection limit of 3.25 μM. The detection platform also showed good potential application value in human serum samples with satisfactory recoveries.