B-GQDs@GSH as a Highly Selective and Sensitive Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Fe3+ in Water Samples and Intracellular

Owing to the excellent stability, biocompatibility and photoluminescence property, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are emerging as a kind of potential materials to be applied in a series of fields ranging from sensor to drug delivery. As the growing concern for human and environmental safety, selective detection of metal ions has been paid more and more attention. GQDs, as nanoparticles with superior optical properties, have been attracting growing attention in the field of metal ions detection. In this work, glutathione(GSH) functionalized boron doped graphene quantum dots (B-GQDs@GSH) were successfully synthesized with stable bright blue fluorescence and has been used for the detection of Fe3+. A good linear relationship between 1/(F-0-F) and 1/c with the concentration ranging from 0.70 to 53 mu mol/L was obtained with a detection limit of 5.5 nmol/L. The application of B-GQDs@GSH for Fe3+ detection in water samples was demonstrated and the quenching mechanism was further explored. Due to low cytotoxicity and favorable biocompatibility, B-GQDs@GSH were successfully applied for cell fluorescence imaging and intracellular determination of Fe3+.

Automated summary

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with excellent stability, biocompatibility, and photoluminescence property have been attracting growing attention in the field of metal ions detection. Glutathione (GSH) functionalized boron doped graphene quantum dots (B-GQDs@GSH) were successfully synthesized, which showed stable bright blue fluorescence and were used for the detection of Fe3+. The application of B-GQDs@GSH for Fe3+ detection in water samples and their use in cell fluorescence imaging and intracellular determination of Fe3+ were demonstrated.