A sensitive fluorescent biosensor for the detection of copper ion inspired by biological recognition element pyoverdine

• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2016.03.128
• Publication Date: 2016-03-26T03:01:44Z
• Authors: Kun Yin; Yixuan Wu; Shasha Wang; Lingxin Chen
• Keywords: 13. Climate action; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

The environmental copper pollution seriously threatens the health of organisms and the safety of ecosystem. Therefore, the development of a simple and sensitive method to detect copper ion is very important. In this study, we have developed a fluorescent biosensor based on biological recognition element pyoverdine to selectively detect copper ion. The fluorescence of pyoverdine is quenched obviously after binding with copper ion. A good linearity within the range of 0.2-10 mu M (R= 0.997) is attained and the detection limit is 50 nM. The biosensor has been successfully utilized for the detection of copper ion in drinking water, seawater and bio-samples and the results agree well with those obtained by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Therefore, the established biosensor is a creditable method to detect copper ion with high sensitivity and selectivity, which can be utilized as a powerful tool to monitor copper pollution in the environment. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.