TY - JOUR
T1 - Selective and sensitive colorimetric detection of the neurotransmitter serotonin based on the aggregation of bifunctionalised gold nanoparticles
AU - Godoy-Reyes, Tania M.
AU - Llopis-Lorente, Antoni
AU - Costero, Ana M.
AU - Sancenón, Félix
AU - Gaviña, Pablo
AU - Martínez-Máñez, Ramón
PY - 2018/4/1
Y1 - 2018/4/1
N2 - We report a simple, sensitive and selective method for the colorimetric detection of serotonin (5-HT) in aqueous media using bifunctionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The probe (1) consisted of AuNPs functionalised with dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate) (DSP) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC). DSP was chosen to react with the amino group of 5-HT, whereas NALC was chosen to bind the hydroxyl group in 5-HT through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. A double interaction between nanoparticles and the hydroxyl and the amino group of serotonin led to interparticle-crosslinking aggregation. This, resulted in a colour change from red to blue that can be observed by the naked eye. The probe was selective to 5-HT and no colour modulation was observed in the presence of other neurotransmitters (i.e. dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine), selected biomolecules (i.e. L-tyrosine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, L-cysteine, uric acid, oxalic acid, aspartic acid and glutamic acid) and common inorganic species. A limit of detection as low as 0.1 μM was determined in buffered water at pH 7 by UV–vis titrations. Similar response of the probe to 5-HT was observed in simulated blood serum, with a limit of detection of 0.12 μM, and a linear response within the 0–3 μM concentration range, which is within the range of the 5-HT concentrations of clinical interest. Finally, the performance of probe (1) in real human blood samples was evaluated, and showed a remarkable ability to distinguish between normal 5-HT levels and 5-HT levels indicative of disease.
AB - We report a simple, sensitive and selective method for the colorimetric detection of serotonin (5-HT) in aqueous media using bifunctionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The probe (1) consisted of AuNPs functionalised with dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate) (DSP) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC). DSP was chosen to react with the amino group of 5-HT, whereas NALC was chosen to bind the hydroxyl group in 5-HT through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. A double interaction between nanoparticles and the hydroxyl and the amino group of serotonin led to interparticle-crosslinking aggregation. This, resulted in a colour change from red to blue that can be observed by the naked eye. The probe was selective to 5-HT and no colour modulation was observed in the presence of other neurotransmitters (i.e. dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine), selected biomolecules (i.e. L-tyrosine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, L-cysteine, uric acid, oxalic acid, aspartic acid and glutamic acid) and common inorganic species. A limit of detection as low as 0.1 μM was determined in buffered water at pH 7 by UV–vis titrations. Similar response of the probe to 5-HT was observed in simulated blood serum, with a limit of detection of 0.12 μM, and a linear response within the 0–3 μM concentration range, which is within the range of the 5-HT concentrations of clinical interest. Finally, the performance of probe (1) in real human blood samples was evaluated, and showed a remarkable ability to distinguish between normal 5-HT levels and 5-HT levels indicative of disease.
KW - Aggregation
KW - Colorimetric detection
KW - Gold nanoparticles
KW - Neurotransmitters
KW - Serotonin (5-HT)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037330056&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.snb.2017.11.181
DO - 10.1016/j.snb.2017.11.181
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85037330056
VL - 258
SP - 829
EP - 835
JO - Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical
JF - Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical
SN - 0925-4005
ER -
