Surface functionalized quantum dots as biosensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of ppb level of propafenone

Monodispersed CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by using thioglycolic acid as surfactants in aqueous solution. The thioglycolic acid was chemically adsorbed on the surface of CdTe QDs that enables the QDs positively charged. In week acidic media, propafenone is positively charged, which can combine with the CdTe QDs to form larger ion-association complex via electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bond. Moreover, the formed ion-association complex could increase the intensity of resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS), second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency doubling-scattering (FDS) of CdTe QDs, and quench the CdTe QDs fluorescence. Importantly, under optimal experimental conditions, the increased RRS, SOS and FDS intensity, and quenched fluorescence intensity of CdTe QDs were in direct proportion to the propafenone concentration in a certain range, respectively. Among them, the RRS method exhibited the highest sensitivity. In a wide concentration range of propafenone from 0.003 to 7.0 μg mL⁻¹, the detection limit could reach 0.96 ng mL⁻¹, which was much lower than previously reported methods. To simulate practical applications, the possible foreign interfering substances were also investigated, such as common ions, amino acid, and glucide. The proposed method here is rapid, sensitive and shows promising application for detection of ppb level of propafenone in human serum.