Carbon nanodots-based C-dips for rapid colorimetric detection of clinically important metal ions

Abstract EN

Owing to unique physical and optical properties, fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) are used in various biomedical applications.

In this study, C-dots have been integrated as sensing agent on paper surface for colorimetric determination of clinically important analytes.

polyacrylamide based C-dots coated C-dips showed visible color change from white to brown for iron (Fe²+, Fe³+) sample.

Moreover, iron and copper (Cu²+) samples showed significant quenching of C-dots under UV.

images captured with/without UV were analyzed to study the relationship between different iron and copper concentrations and colorimetric intensity values.

color intensity and fluorescence showed a linear relationship with concentrations of iron and copper (Range : 1×104 to 1×10-² M, Linearity : R² = 0.94), LOD from the paper sensor showed a sensitivity of 3.89x10-5 μM, 4.65×10-5 µM and 6.7×105 µM for Fe³+, Fe²+ and Cu²+ respectively, reflecting its reliability as low-cost sensing solution to analyze clinically relevant analytes as reported in current study.