Eu(III)-based polymeric nanoparticles as dual-emission turn-off sensor for anthrax biomarker detection

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease with high mortality caused by bacillus anthracis, which can severely harm human healthy. 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) is the main component and a major biomarker of bacillus anthracis. Therefore, it is essential to develop a sensitive and selective sensor for DPA detection. In this study, luminescent lanthanide nanoparticles, poly(PTEu)-PAA, were successfully synthesized by introducing Europium (III)-based complex and N-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)acrylamide (TPENA) to a hydrophilic macro-chain transfer agent poly(PEGMA)-PAA. The obtained poly(PTEu)-PAA nanoparticles were spherical with good dis-persity, water stability and average diameters of approximately 443 nm. Furthermore, poly(PTEu)-PAA nano -particles can act as a dual emission turn-off probe for detecting DPA in water. Upon addition of DPA, the emission of Eu(TTA)2(AA)phen and TPENA centers in polymeric nanoparticles were quenched with the detection limits (LODs) of 0.30 mu M (at 618 nm) and 6.1 mu M (at 455 nm), respectively, which was considerably lower than an infectious dosage of bacillus anthracis spores (60 mu M) for a human being. Additionally, it showed high recoveries (92.50 %-102.45 %) in tap water, bovine serum, human serum and human urine samples. This is the first example of DPA sensor based on a dual-emission turn-off mechanism for Eu(III)-based polymeric nanoparticles, which presents a new avenue for detecting DPA.

Automated summary

In this study, luminescent lanthanide nanoparticles were synthesized as a dual emission turn-off probe for detecting 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) in water. The nanoparticles showed good dispersion and water stability, and achieved low detection limits for DPA. They also exhibited high recoveries in various samples.