Colorimetric and Fluorescent Dual-Modality Sensing Platform Based on Fluorescent Nanozyme

Compared with natural enzymes, nanozymes based on carbonaceous nanomaterials are advantages due to high stability, good biocompatibility, and the possibility of multifunctionalities through materials engineering at an atomic level. Herein, we present a sensing platform using a nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dot (NGQD) as a highly efficient fluorescent peroxidase mimic, which enables a colorimetric/fluorescent dual-modality platform for detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and biomolecules (ascorbic acid-AA, acid phosphatase-ACP) with high sensitivity. NGQD is synthesized using a simple hydrothermal process, which has advantages of high production yield and potential for large-scale preparation. NGQD with uniform size (3.0 +/- 0.6 nm) and a single-layer graphene structure exhibits bright and stable fluorescence. N-doping and ultrasmall size endow NGQD with high peroxidase-mimicking activity with an obviously reduced Michaelis-Menten constant (K-m) in comparison with natural horseradish peroxidase. Taking advantages of both high nanozyme activity and unique fluorescence property of NGQD, a colorimetric and fluorescent dual-modality platform capable of detecting H2O2 and biomolecules (AA, ACP) with high sensitivity is developed as the proof-of-concept demonstration. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the nanozyme activity and biosensing are investigated.

Automated summary

Nanozymes based on carbonaceous nanomaterials have advantages over natural enzymes in terms of high stability, good biocompatibility, and the potential for multifunctionality through material engineering. A sensing platform utilizing nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots has been developed, demonstrating high efficiency in detecting hydrogen peroxide and biomolecules with high sensitivity through a dual-modality colorimetric and fluorescent platform.