WS2 quantum dots as a sensitive fluorescence probe for the detection of glucose

In this paper, a new fluorescence method was developed for glucose detection by using tungsten disulfide quantum dots (WS2 QDs) based on the transformation of Fe2+/Fe3+ and the enzymatic reaction. In the presence of Fe3+, the fluorescence for WS2 QDs can be quenched via photoinduced electron transfer (PET), while Fe2+ does not influence the fluorescence of WS2 QDs. Glucose can produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence of glucose oxidase (GOx). And Fe2+ can be transferred to Fe3+ via the oxidation of H2O2. So a sensitive and simple strategy for glucose detection can be developed due to the different influences of Fe2+ and Fe3+ on the fluorescence intensity of WS2 QDs. Under the optimized experimental conditions, a linear response was obtained for glucose in the range of 1-60 mu mol L-1 with a detection limit 0.30 mu mol L-1. This method was further applied to the glucose detection in serum sample with satisfactory results.