Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Cytochemistry, School of Food and Bioengineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410114, China.
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Hereditary Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Changsha Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care Affiliated to Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410083, China.
Talanta. 2025 Jan 1;281:126805. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126805. Epub 2024 Sep 10.
The daily consumption of foods abundant in Glutathione (GSH) can be supplemented to maintain the homeostasis of GSH in human health and alleviate pathologies resulting from abnormal GSH levels. The fluorescence-based visual determination of GSH has gradually attracted the attention of researchers due to its robust performance and versatile implementation. However, the current GSH visual strategy primarily relies on variations in fluorescence intensity at a single emission wavelength, which poses challenges for naked-eye and portable readout, as well as distorted signals caused by complex matrix effects in real samples. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescence sensor based on carbon dots (CDs) combined with an all-in-one 3D-printed smartphone-based device was successfully developed for low-cost, visual and rapid detection of GSH without the need for an external excitation light source. The ratiometric fluorescent materials were synthesized by conjugating blue carbon dots (B-CDs) with yellow carbon dots (Y-CDs) through the utilization of selected Cu ions. The resulting mechanism demonstrated that the coordination interaction between Cu and residual aromatic amino groups in Y-CDs (Y-CDs-Cu) contributed to a newly emitted peak at 580 nm, thereby inducing fluorescence resonance energy transfer from B-CDs to Y-CDs-Cu. A linear correlation was found between GSH concentrations and R/B values in the range of 10-100 μM, with a limit of detection observed at 4.8 μM. By utilizing this portable device in combination with RGB analysis, the quantitative detection of GSH can be achieved even in complex food matrices such as tomatoes and grapes. The universality of this all-in-one device was further validated by pre-spraying CDs onto a paper strip for visual measurement of GSH. This work offers a portable, visual, and accessible approach to evaluating food safety and nutrition, thereby demonstrating significant economic value and holding profound implications for human health.
日常食用富含谷胱甘肽 (GSH) 的食物可以补充 GSH，以维持人体健康的 GSH 内稳态，并减轻因 GSH 水平异常而导致的病理学问题。基于荧光的 GSH 可视化测定方法由于其强大的性能和多功能的实现方式，逐渐引起了研究人员的关注。然而，目前的 GSH 可视化策略主要依赖于单一发射波长处荧光强度的变化，这对于肉眼和便携式读出以及实际样品中复杂基质效应引起的失真信号构成了挑战。在此，成功开发了一种基于碳点 (CDs) 的比率荧光传感器，结合了一体化的基于智能手机的 3D 打印设备，用于低成本、可视化和快速检测 GSH，无需外部激发光源。比率荧光材料是通过利用选择的 Cu 离子将蓝色碳点 (B-CDs) 与黄色碳点 (Y-CDs) 偶联合成的。结果表明，Cu 与 Y-CDs 中残留的芳族氨基之间的配位相互作用（Y-CDs-Cu）导致在 580nm 处出现新的发射峰，从而诱导 B-CDs 到 Y-CDs-Cu 的荧光共振能量转移。发现 GSH 浓度与 R/B 值之间存在线性关系，在 10-100μM 范围内，检测限为 4.8μM。通过将这种便携式设备与 RGB 分析结合使用，即使在复杂的食物基质（如西红柿和葡萄）中也可以实现 GSH 的定量检测。通过在纸条上预喷洒 CDs 实现了对 GSH 的可视化测量，进一步验证了这种一体化设备的通用性。这项工作提供了一种便携、可视化和易于获取的方法来评估食品安全和营养，从而具有显著的经济价值并对人类健康具有深远的意义。
