One-pot synthesis of copper nanoconjugate materials as luminescent sensor for Fe3+ and I− detection in human urine sample

Abstract

A simple synthetic approach of water-soluble and stable fluorescent copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) at room temperature was proposed. The cysteamine functionalized nanoconjugate materials (CA-Cu NCs) exhibited variety of exceptional properties, including good water-solubility, photostability, low cytotoxicity and acting as an excellent cell imaging probe. Based on the electron transfer and aggregation induced fluorescence quenching mechanism, CA-Cu NCs were utilized in the selective determination of ferric (Fe3+) and iodide (I−) ions. The detection limits of Fe3+ and I− ions were calculated as 423 nM and 2.02 μM, which are lower than the maximum level of Fe3+ and I− ions, allowed in drinking water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The assay method of paper strip was also successfully applied for the detection of Fe3+ and I− ions in live cells and human urine. Keywords: Copper nanoclusters, Cysteamine, Fluorescent assay, Paper strip, Fe3+ and I− detection, Cell imaging