Selective colorimetric detection of copper (II) by a protein-based nanoprobe

• In this work, we report a novel protein-based nanoprobe (PNP) that can be employed for quantitative analysis of Cu2+ in pure water medium and real samples. Structurally, the proposed nanoprobe comprises a biofriendly protein (hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL)) and a Cu2+-specific chromogenic agent, where HEWL acts as a nanocarrier encapsulating a structurally tailored rhodamine B derivate. The resulting PNP exhibits a hydrodynamic diameter of similar to 106 nm and efficiently disperses in water, enabling the detection of Cu2+ in pure aqueous systems without the aid of any organic co-solvents. The high sensitivity and selectivity of PNP allow the colorimetric detection of Cu2+ in the presence of other metal interferents with a low detection limit of 160 nM. The satisfying recovery of trace level Cu2+ in environmental samples demonstrate the great potential of employing PNP for the determination of Cu2+ in actual applications. Most importantly, the simple co-grinding method employing proteins and chromogenic agents provides a novel strategy to generate sensing systems that are useful detection of pollutants in aqueous samples. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Protein-based probes; Rhodamine B; Colorimetric detection; Trace level Cu2+; Water-dispersible

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