Analytical strategies based on quantum dots for heavy metal ions detection

• Published in: Journal of biomedical optics Vol. 19; no. 10; p. 101503
• Main Authors: Vázquez-González, Margarita, Carrillo-Carrion, Carolina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Cadmium; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical - methods; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Heavy metals; Ions - analysis; Mercury (metal); Metals, Heavy - analysis; Quantum Dots; Sensors; Strategy; Toxic; Toxicology; quantum dots; sensors; heavy metal ions; bio-inspired systems
• ISSN: 1083-3668; 1560-2281
• DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.19.10.101503

Heavy metal contamination is one of the major concerns to human health because these substances are toxic and retained by the ecological system. Therefore, in recent years, there has been a pressing need for fast and reliable methods for the analysis of heavy metal ions in environmental and biological samples. Quantum dots (QDs) have facilitated the development of sensitive sensors over the past decade, due to their unique photophysical properties, versatile surface chemistry and ligand binding ability, and the possibility of the encapsulation in different materials or attachment to different functional materials, while retaining their native luminescence property. This paper comments on different sensing strategies with QD for the most toxic heavy metal ions (i.e., cadmium, Cd2+; mercury, Hg2+; and lead, Pb2+). Finally, the challenges and outlook for the QD-based sensors for heavy metals ions are discussed.