A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for detection of L-glutamic acid based on dual-emission carbon dots

In this article, we report for the first time the use of a dual-emission carbon dots (CDs) with orange-yellow fluorescence for the detection of L-glutamic acid (L-Glu). The CDs was synthesized through a facile strategy of one-pot hydrothermal route using o-phenylenediamine (oPD) and oxalic acid. The CDs exhibit two fluorescence emission peaks around 453 nm and 560 nm when the excitation wavelength is at 390 nm. In the existence of L -Glu the fluorescence at 560 nm was decreased, whereas the fluorescence at 453 nm was constant. The fluo-rescence intensity ratio at 560 nm and 453 nm (F-560/F-453) expressed two great linear relationships in the L-Glu concentration range from 0 to 200 mu M and 200-400 mu M, respectively, with a detection limit (LOD) of about 0.085 mu M. In addition, it was used to analyze L-Glu in fetal bovine serum samples successfully, which recoveries were ranging from 97.07 to 103.7%. Those results demonstrate CDs can be further explored in biomedicine studies.

Automated summary

In this article, the use of dual-emission carbon dots (CDs) with orange-yellow fluorescence for the detection of L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) is reported for the first time. The CDs were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal route and showed changes in fluorescence intensity in the presence of L-Glu. These findings suggest that CDs have potential applications in biomedical research.