Ultrasensitive Profiling of Metabolites Using Tyramine-Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dots

Abstract

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are emerging fluorescence reporters attractive for optical sensing, owing to their high photostability, highly tunable photoluminescence, molecular size, atomically thin structure, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization. Herein, we present a fluorometric sensing platform based on tyramine-functionalized GQDs, which is able to detect a spectrum of metabolites with high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, multiparametric blood analysis (glucose, cholesterol, L-lactate, and xanthine) is demonstrated. This convenient metabolite profiling technique could be instrumental for diagnosis, study, and management of metabolic disorders and associated diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, lactic acidosis, gout, and hypertension.

2D–Materials‐Based Quantum Dots: Gateway Towards Next‐Generation Optical Devices

“…The size of GQDs are smaller than that of GO with enhanced photoluminescence (PL) . Their properties such as highly tunable PL, enhanced photostability, atomically‐thin structure, molecular size, biocompatibility and easy functionalization make them attractive candidates for optical sensing . Different carbon precursors such as fullerene, glucose, graphite or graphene oxides, carbon nanotubes and carbon fibres were used in the synthesis of GQDs .…”

“…Tyramine‐functionalized GQDs using carbon black precursor for fluorometric sensing platform in order to detect a spectrum of metabolites and multiparametric blood analysis (glucose, cholesterol, L‐lactate, and xanthine) was also reported. [19a] This metabolite profiling technique could be a great compliment in the diagnosis, study, and management of diabetes, obesity, lactic acidosis, gout, hypertension and so on. The synthetic scheme for liquid exfoliation of GQDs and GOQDs is given in Figure (A) where the red dots correspond to oxygenous sites.…”

Nanofabrication of Graphene Quantum Dots with High Toxicity Against Malaria Mosquitoes, Plasmodium falciparum and MCF-7 Cancer Cells: Impact on Predation of Non-target Tadpoles, Odonate Nymphs and Mosquito Fishes

“…1d). Intense Raman D bands were observed at 1340 cm 1 and G band at 1580 cm 1 . These bands are similar to those reported for high quality few-layer graphene nanoribbons [67].…”

“…Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) recently emerged as superior and universal fluorophores, due to their unique combination of a number of key merits, including excellent photo-stability, small size, biocompatibility, highly tunable photoluminescence (PL), exceptional multi-photon excitation (up-conversion), electrochemiluminescence, chemical inertness, and simple functionalization routes with biomolecules [1]. For these reasons, GQD synthesized by various top-down and bottom-up approaches [2] are presently at the center of research efforts to develop low-toxicity, environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional semiconductor quantum dots [3,4].…”

Properties and Synthesis Strategies of Graphene Quantum Dots

“…In this regard, post-modification is an alternative approach, in which GQDs can be modified by post-processing. 58,[60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68] Post-modification allows one to design GQDs with rationally improved properties. Polymer passivation is an often-adopted method to improve the quantum yield of GQDs.…”