Paper-based electrochemiluminescence device for the rapid estimation of trimethylamine in fish via the quenching effect of thioglycolic acid-capped cadmium selenide quantum dots

A paper-based electrochemiluminescence device (mu PAD-ECL) for the estimation of trimethylamine (TMA) concentration in fish was developed using tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) complex coupled with water soluble thioglycolic acid-capped CdSe quantum dots on the inkjet-printed paper-based device. The quenching effect of tertiary amines on the ECL intensity was found to be sensitive and concentration dependent. This effect allows the measurement of TMA at low concentrations. Under the optimal conditions, the linear concentration range was exhibited from 1 x 10(-12) to 1 x 10(-7) M and a detection limit of 2.09 x 10(-13) M, with relative standard deviation of 1.97 %. The applicability of mu PAD-ECL is demonstrated by the rapid estimation of trimethylamine concentration in fish tissue, and could be used as a method for screening the total amount of tertiary amines in fishery products in remote communities. The results obtained using the paper-based devices agreed well with those obtained applying high performance liquid chromatography with benzoyl derivatization, at a confidence level of 95%.

Automated summary

A paper-based electrochemiluminescence device was developed for estimating trimethylamine concentration in fish, showing sensitive and concentration-dependent quenching effect of tertiary amines on ECL intensity. The device exhibited a linear concentration range from 1 x 10(-12) to 1 x 10(-7) M with a detection limit of 2.09 x 10(-13) M, and provided results comparable to high performance liquid chromatography with benzoyl derivatization at a 95% confidence level.