Simple and fast detection of homocysteine by cucurbit[7]uril fluorescent probe based on competitive strategy

This research put forward a simple and rapid fluorescence probe method based on competition strategy to detect homocysteine. The host-guest interaction behavior between cucurbit[7]uril and homocysteine was further studied via UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, molecular modeling, and 1H NMR spectroscopy in aqueous solution. Under the optimal detection conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the cucurbit[7]uril-berberine complex declined linearly with increasing concentration of homocysteine in the range from 5 to 200 mu M, and the limit of detection was 1.76 mu M. Meanwhile, it was also successfully employed to detect homocysteine in serum samples with the recovery rate of 85.1% to 102.0%.