Functionalized CdSe/ZnS QDs for the Detection of Nitroaromatic or RDX Explosives

摘要

Surface-modified quantum dots (QDs) are extensively used as fluorescent labels for sensing and biosensing events.[1.2] Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or electron-transfer quenching of the QDs are two fundamental photophysical mechanisms to probe sensing processes at the surface of the QDs.[2,3] Indeed, these photophysical mechanisms were implemented to detect ions,'4' to follow pH changes,[5] and to detect molecular substrates, such as saccharides or neurotransmitters.[6] Similarly, QDs have been widely used for biosensing, and different luminescence sensors that follow the formation of antigen-antibody complexes,'7' DNA hybridization[8,9] and aptamer-substrate complexes[10] were reported. Also, QDs have been extensively used to follow biocatalytic transformations and to quantitatively probe the substrates of enzymes.[9,11]