Potassium ferricyanide oxidizes silicon quantum dots under alkaline conditions to produce chemiluminescence for uric acid detection in human urine

Potassium ferricyanide (K-3(Fe(CN)(6))) could directly oxidize silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) to generate chemiluminescence (CL) under alkaline conditions. It was noteworthy that in the Si QDs-K-3(Fe(CN)(6))-NaOH CL system, the Si QDs worked as a new luminescent material. In addition, the signal intensity of this CL system could be weakened with the addition of uric acid (UA). Based on these, we exploited a new easy and convenient determination method of UA. This method only needed filtration and dilution of UA, without other pretreatment. The constructed system exhibited a linear relationship that ranged from 0.50 to 4.50 mmol center dot L-1, with 0.24 mmol center dot L-1 of detection limit, and this system had successfully demonstrated the detection of UA in human urine. In addition, this work also broaden the application of the Si QDs in CL research.

Automated summary

Potassium ferricyanide can directly oxidize silicon quantum dots to generate chemiluminescence. In this chemiluminescence system, silicon quantum dots function as a new luminescent material. Furthermore, the addition of uric acid weakens the signal intensity of the chemiluminescence system. Based on these findings, a simple and convenient method for uric acid determination was developed, and uric acid levels in human urine were successfully detected. This study also expands the application of silicon quantum dots in chemiluminescence research.