Silicon nanoparticles synthesized using a microwave method and used as a label‐free fluorescent probe for detection of VB₁₂

Abstract

A simple and rapid detection strategy for vitamin B 12 (VB 12 ) was established based on label-free silicon quantum dots (SiQDs); the detection mechanism was additionally investigated. SiQDs were synthesized using a one-step microwave method, and their fluorescence was stronger than that synthesized using the hydrothermal method.SiQDs fluorescence was quenched using VB 12 due to the inner filter effect (IFE), which was demonstrated using ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra, fluorescence lifetime, transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential analysis. Subsequently, quercetin (Que) and doxorubicin (Dox) with absorption peaks that overlapped the excitation or emission peaks of SiQDs respectively were used as control groups to investigate the quenching mechanism. Results showed that quenching efficiency was related to the level of overlap between the adsorption peak of the quencher and the excitation or emission peaks of SiQDs. A greater level of overlap caused a higher quenching efficiency. Therefore, the sensitive quenching of VB 12 for SiQDs was due to the synergistic effect of the synchronous overlap between the absorption peak of VB 12 with the excitation and emission peaks of SiQDs. Fluorescence quenching efficiency increased linearly in the 0.5 to 16.0 μmol·L −1 VB 12 concentration range, and the detection limit was 158 nmol·L −1 . In addition, SiQDs were applied to determine VB 12 in tablets and human urine samples with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 97.7 to 101.1%. KEYWORDS fluorescence method, inner filter effect, quenching mechanism, silicon quantum dots, vitamin B 12

Current Nanocarrier Strategies Improve Vitamin B12 Pharmacokinetics, Ameliorate Patients’ Lives, and Reduce Costs

“…Long et al realized silicon QDs with a size of 4-5 nm which they employed to detect VitB12, the presence of which was demonstrated to quench the fluorescence of silicon QDs due to the inner filter effect. Fluorescence quenching efficiency was observed to monotonically increase as a function of the VitB12 concentration, thus allowing the detection of VitB12 with an LoD of 158 nmol L −1 [96]. Pourreza et al demonstrated a fluorescence method based on the use of chitosan-embedded Ag nanoparticles which interact with VitB12, cloud point extraction, and the subsequent detection using fluorescence.…”

Water Soluble Silicon Nanoparticles as a Fluorescent Probe for Highly Sensitive Detection of Rutin

“…They are mainly obtained by the reaction of a silicon source and reducing agent. Methods of synthesizing water-soluble SiNPs included the water bath method, , room temperature stirring method, , microwave-assisted method, , post-modification method, , and one-pot hydrothermal method. , In recent years, the one-pot hydrothermal method has been widely applied to the synthesis of water-soluble SiNPs owing to its superiority of simple operation, inexpensive equipment, and excellent optical properties of the synthesized materials. Compared with traditional fluorescent quantum dots, water-soluble SiNPs are simple in composition and free of heavy metal elements.…”

“…Owing to the simple synthesis and excellent properties, SiNPs were considered as ideal fluorescent probes in the fields of analytical science. Lately, fluorescent probes based on SiNPs were successfully used to detect heavy metal ions, , dopamine, amino acids, vitamins, nitro explosives, etc. Furthermore, SiNPs could also be used for pH sensing and bioimaging. ,− Nevertheless, the application of SiNPs in the detection of active ingredient of Chinese medicine is relatively rare.…”