Dual Reaction-Based Multimodal Assay for Dopamine with High Sensitivity and Selectivity Using Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

A simple and dual chemical reaction-based multimodal assay for dopamine with high sensitivity and selectivity using two types of functionalized gold nanoparticles (FB-AuNPs/NsNHS-AuNPs), i.e. fluorescein modified gold nanoparticles (FB-AuNPs) and Nile blue modified gold nanoparticles (NsNHS-AuNPs), was successfully fabricated. This assay for dopamine presents colorimetric visualization and double channel fluorescence enhancement at 515 and 665 nm. The absorbance and fluorescence changes were linearly proportional to the amounts of dopamine in the range of nanomolar scale (5-100 nM). The detection limits for absorbance and fluorescence were as low as 1.2 nM and 2.9 nM (S/N = 3), respectively. Furthermore, the extent application of this multimodal assay has been successfully demonstrated in human urine samples with high reliability and applicability, showing remarkable promise in diagnostic purposes.