Simultaneous sensing γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase by robust dual-emission carbon dots

Abstract

Rapid, convenient, sensitive and simultaneous detection of distinct enzymes is urgently needed for diagnosis, therapeutics and prognostic of related diseases. Here, a new strategy for simultaneous monitoring γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been fabricated based on dual-emission carbon dots (CDs). CDs were prepared by solvothermal treatment of Actinidia chinensis, which presents two fluorescent emissions at 471 nm (blue channel) and 671 nm (red channel). GGT and ALP activity can be detected based on inner filter effect (IFE) and static quenching effect (SQE) of blue and red channels of CDs, respectively. Linear ranges were 2.5–90 U L−1 and 5–200 U L−1, and limit of detection (LOD) were 0.71 U L−1 and 1.2 U L−1 for GGT and ALP, respectively. Developed CDs can monitor GGT and ALP activity in human serum samples with satisfied recoveries (99.3%–108.6% for GGT, 98.4%–105.4% for ALP). Furthermore, the combination of CDs to sense GGT and ALP activity with OR logic gate can predict human health status. The design and application of dual-emission CDs can also be extended as promising tools to detect multianalytes using different channel signals.