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BACKGROUND: The increasing uranium containing wastes generated during uranium mining and finishing pose a huge threat to the environment and human health, and thus robust strategies for on-site monitoring of uranium pollutant are of great significance for environmental protection around uranium tailings. RESULTS: Herein, a facile "turn-on" colorimetric platform that can achieve uranium detection by spectrometry and naked eyes was developed based on the uranium-enhanced nanozyme activity of covalent organic framework (JUC-505). Thanks to the extended π-conjugated skeleton and donor-acceptor (D-A) structure, JUC-505 exhibited superior photo-activated nanozyme activity, which would be prohibited when the cyano group in JUC-505 skeleton was transformed to the amidoxime group. Further results elucidated that the coordination of uranium with amidoxime groups led to the electron transfer between uranium and the JUC-505-AO skeleton, and thus significantly restored the nanozymatic activity of JUC-505-AO with the subsequent remarkable color changes. Moreover, the uranium concentrations in uranium tailing wastewater detected by the present "turn-on" colorimetric method were well agreed with those by ICP-MS, demonstrating a high accuracy of the present method in real samples. SIGNIFICANCE: The D-A structured JUC-505 with superior photocatalytic property and nanozymatic activity was applied to facilitate colorimetric detection of uranium, which displays the advantages of low detection limit, excellent selectivity, fast response and simple operation for uranium detection in real samples, and shows a great potential in on-site monitoring of uranium pollutant around uranium tailings as well as nuclear power plant.
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As large numbers of people are suffering from gout, an accurate, rapid, and sensitive method for the detection of gout biomarker, uric acid, is important for its effective control, diagnosis, and therapy. Although colorimetric detection methods based on uricase have been considered, they still have limitations as they produce toxic H2O2 and are expensive and not stable. Here, a novel uricase-free colorimetric method was developed for the sensitive and selective detection of uric acid based on the light-induced oxidase-mimicking activity of a new photosensitized covalent organic framework (COF) (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile-4-[2-(4-formylphenyl)ethynyl]benzaldehyde COF [DCTP-EDA COF]). DCTP-EDA COF has a strong ability to harvest visible light, and it could catalyze the oxidation of 1,4-dioxane, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine under visible light irradiation to produce obvious color changes. With the addition of uric acid, however, the significant inhibition of the oxidase-mimicking activity of DCTP-EDA COF remarkably faded the color, and thus uric acid could be colorimetrically detected in the range of 2.0-150 µM with a limit of detection of 0.62 µM (3σ/K). Moreover, the present colorimetric method exhibited high selectivity; uric acid level in serum samples was successfully determined, and the recoveries ranged from 96.5% to 105.64%, suggesting the high accuracy of the present colorimetric method, which demonstrates great promise in clinical analysis.
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Gota , Estruturas Metalorgânicas , Humanos , Oxirredutases , Ácido Úrico , Peróxido de Hidrogênio , Colorimetria/métodos , Urato OxidaseRESUMO
An imidazolyl hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF-T) with outstanding thermal and water stability was constructed by C-Hâ¯N hydrogen bonding and C-Hâ¯π interactions. UO22+ can be selectively captured by the imidazole group of HOF-T and rapidly reduced to UO2 under visible light irradiation, realizing exceptional uranium removal with high capacity and fast kinetics.
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Untreated radioactive iodine (129I and 131I) released from nuclear power plants poses a significant threat to humans and the environment, so the development of materials to capture iodine from water media and steam is critical. Here, we report a charge transfer complex (TCNQ-MA CTC) with abundant nitrogen atoms and π-conjugated system for adsorption of I2 vapor and I3- from aqueous solutions. Due to the synergistic binding mechanism of benzene/triazine rings and N-containing groups with iodine, special I-π and charge transfer interaction can be formed between the guest and the host, and thus efficient removal of I2 and I3- can be realized by TCNQ-MA CTC with the adsorption capacity up to 2.42 g/g and 800 mg/g, respectively. TCNQ-MA CTC can capture 92% of I3- within 2.5 min, showing extremely fast kinetics, excellent selectivity and high affinity (Kd = 5.68 × 106 mL/g). Finally, the TCNQ-MA CTC was successfully applied in the removal of iodine from seawater with the efficiency of 93.71%. This work provides new insights in the construction of charge transfer complexes and lays the foundation for its environmental applications.
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Construction of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based nanozymes is of great importance for the extensive applications in catalysis and sensing fields. In this work, a two-dimensional COF (DAFB-DCTP COF) was fabricated via Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The integration of catalytically active sites of pyridine groups into the donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated skeleton endows DAFB-DCTP COF with both hydrolytic and photosensitive properties. The DAFB-DCTP COF can be utilized as an artificial enzyme with selective and photo-enhanced catalytic efficiency, facilitating its application in photocatalytic degradation of hydrolase substrates (p-nitrophenyl acetate, pNPA) by nucleophilic reaction and further realizing colorimetric detection of the nanozyme inhibitor of organophosphorus nerve agent (diethyl cyanophosphonate, DCNP). The distinct color changes could be distinguished by naked eyes even at a low DCNP concentration, and the versatile smartphone analysis featured with reliability and simplicity. For the first time, the COFs' intrinsic hydrolase activity depending on their structural characteristics was investigated in synergy with the photosensitive performance originating from their photoelectric features. The present contribution provides a promising direction towards construction of colorimetric sensing platform based on the regulation of COFs' non-oxidoreductase activity under visible light irradiation.
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Estruturas Metalorgânicas , Agentes Neurotóxicos , Colorimetria , Compostos Organofosforados , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , HidrolasesRESUMO
Nanomaterials with enzyme mimetic activity have attracted extensive attention, especially in the regulation of their catalytic activities by biomolecules or other polymers. Here, a covalent organic framework (Tph-BT COF) with excellent photocatalytic activity is constructed by Schiff base reaction, and its mimetic oxidase activity and peroxidase activity is inversely regulated via single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Under light-emitting diode (LED) light irradiation, Tph-BT exhibited outstanding oxidase activity, which efficiently catalyzed oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce blue oxTMB, and ssDNA, especially those with poly-thymidine (T) sequences, can significantly inhibit its oxidase activity. On the contrary, Tph-BT showed weak peroxidase activity, and the presence of ssDNA, particularly poly-cytosine (C) sequences, can remarkably enhance the peroxidase activity. The influence of base type, base length, and other factors on the activities of two enzymes is also studied, and the results reveal that the adsorption of ssDNA on the surface of Tph-BT prevented intersystem crossing (ISC) and energy transfer processes to reduce 1 O2 generation, while the electrostatic interaction between ssDNA and TMB enhanced Tph-BT's affinity for TMB to facilitate the electron transfer from TMB to ⢠OH. This study investigates multitype mimetic enzyme activities of nonmetallic D-A conjugated COFs and demonstrates their feasibility of regulation by ssDNA.
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Estruturas Metalorgânicas , Oxirredutases , DNA de Cadeia Simples , Antioxidantes , Peroxidases , Peroxidase/metabolismo , Colorimetria/métodosRESUMO
Nanozymes are nanomaterials with enzyme-mimetic activity. It is known that DNA can interact with various nanozymes in different ways, enhancing or inhibiting the activity of nanozymes, which can be used to develop various biosensors. In this work, we synthesized a photosensitive covalent-organic framework (Tph-BT) as a nanozyme, and its oxidase and peroxidase activities could be reversely regulated by surface modification of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) for the colorimetric detection of UO22+. Tph-BT exhibits excellent oxidase activity and weak peroxidase activity, and it is surprising to find that the UO22+-specific DNA aptamer can significantly inhibit the oxidase activity while greatly enhancing the peroxidase activity. The present UO22+ interacts with the DNA aptamer to form secondary structures and detaches from the surface of Tph-BT, thereby restoring the enzymatic activity of Tph-BT. Based on the reversed regulation effects of the DNA aptamer on the two types of enzymatic activities of Tph-BT, a novel "off-on" and "on-off" sensing platform can be constructed for the colorimetric analysis of UO22+. This research demonstrates that ssDNA can effectively regulate the different types of enzymatic activities of single COFs and achieve the sensitive and selective colorimetric analysis of radionuclides by the naked eye.
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Aptâmeros de Nucleotídeos , Técnicas Biossensoriais , DNA Catalítico , Estruturas Metalorgânicas , Urânio , DNA Catalítico/química , Urânio/análise , Aptâmeros de Nucleotídeos/química , Colorimetria , Estruturas Metalorgânicas/química , Oxirredutases , DNA de Cadeia Simples , PeroxidasesRESUMO
Previous researches of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown their potential as fluorescent probes, but the regulation of their optical properties and recognition characteristics still remains a challenge, and most of reports required complicated post-decoration to improve the sensing performance. In this context, we propose a novel in-situ strategy to construct uracil-conjugated COFs and modulate their fluorescence properties for sensitive and selective mercury(II) detection. By using 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-formylphenyl)pyrene (TFPPy) and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)pyrene (TAPPy) as fundamental blocks and 5-aminouraci (5-AU) as the functional monomer, a series of COFs (Py-COFs and Py-U-COFs-1 to Py-U-COFs-5) with tunable fluorescence were solvothermally synthesized through an in-situ Schiff base reaction. The π-conjugated framework serves as a signal reporter, the evenly and densely distributed uracil acts as a mercury(II) receptor, and the regular pores (channels) make the rapid and sensitive detection of the mercury(II) possible. In this research, we manage to regulate the crystalline structure, the fluorescence properties, and the sensing performance of COFs by simply changing the molar ratio of precursors. We expect this research to open up a new strategy for effective and controllable construction of functionalized COFs for environmental analysis.
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To ensure the long-term sustainable development of nuclear energy as well as the prevention and control of uranium pollution, new materials that can simultaneously detect and separate uranium are still urgently needed. Herein, a new fluorescent covalent organic polymer (COP), namely HT-COP-AO, was synthesized andemployed as both the fluorescent probe and absorbent for simultaneous uranium detection and separationconsidering its excellent fluorescence property and strong uranium coordination ability. The results showed that the fluorescence of HT-COP-AO was quickly quenched by uranium within 2 min, and the limit of detection was 0.23 µM (3σ/K). Further studies implied that uranium was coordinated with the amidoxime groups of HT-COP-AO through U-N and O = U = O bonds, which resulted in electron transfer from uranium to HT-COP-AO and quenching the fluorescence of HT-COP-AO consequently. Meanwhile, HT-COP-AO exhibited excellent absorption ability towards uranium, and the maximum absorption capacity (qmax = 401.3 mg/g) was higher than most reported amidoxime modified materials. The HT-COP-AO also showed high selectivity for both uranium detection and separation which makes it a great promising for uranium monitoring in real water samples.
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Urânio , Corantes Fluorescentes , Transporte de Elétrons , PolímerosRESUMO
Bacterial infection causes serious threats to human life, especially with the appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Phototherapeutic approaches have become promising due to their noninvasiveness, few adverse effects, and high efficiency. Herein, a covalent organic framework (TAPP-BDP) with a conjugated donor-acceptor (D-A) structure has been constructed for efficient photoinduced bacteriostasis. Under the irradiation with a single near-infrared (NIR) light (λ = 808 nm), TAPP-BDP alone involves triple and synergistic bacterial inhibition based on the integration of photodynamic, photothermal, and peroxidase-like enzymatic activities. The unique D-A structure endows TAPP-BDP with a narrow energy band gap, improving its photodynamic and nanozyme activities to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to realize the broad-spectrum bactericidal activity. The extended π-conjugated skeleton of TAPP-BDP results in enhanced absorption in NIR, and the remarkable photothermal activity can increase the temperature up to 65 °C to cause efficient bacterial degeneration. TAPP-BDP shows excellent antibacterial efficiency against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Animal experiments further suggest that TAPP-BDP can effectively heal wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in living systems.
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Estruturas Metalorgânicas , Animais , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Bactérias , Bactérias Gram-Positivas , Estruturas Metalorgânicas/farmacologia , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/químicaRESUMO
In this work, we synthesized a two-dimensional fluorescent covalent-organic framework (TFPB-TTA COF) nanosheet by selecting and designing reactive monomers to realize the dual-functional processing of nitrophenols. The staggered benzene ring, triazine structure, and imine bond (CâN) of the TFPB-TTA COF can capture free nitrophenols through hydrogen bonding and conjugation interaction, and then, the photoinduced electron transfer and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the TFPB-TTA COF and nitrophenols affects the fluorescence emission of the TFPB-TTA COF, realizing the fluorescence sensing of nitrophenols. The large Ksv values and the low detection limit suggest that the TFPB-TTA COF can serve as sensitive and selective fluorescence sensors for nitrophenol detection in an aqueous system. At the same time, the strong interaction combined with the porous network structure of the TFPB-TTA COF facilitates the efficient adsorption and removal of nitrophenols. Especially for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, the maximum adsorption capacity can reach 1045.53 mg/g with good recyclability and high structural stability of the TFPB-TTA COF. This work proposed a simple synthetic method for the construction of a fluorescent COF platform for the sensitive determination and efficient adsorption of nitrophenols.
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Estruturas Metalorgânicas , Adsorção , Corantes , Transferência Ressonante de Energia de Fluorescência , Estruturas Metalorgânicas/química , NitrofenóisRESUMO
Uranium is an important nuclear fuel and the risk of human exposure to uranium increases as increasing amounts of uranium-containing waste enter the environment due to the rapid growth of nuclear power. Therefore, rapid, sensitive, and portable uranium detection is a promising approach to effectively control and monitor uranium contamination. To achieve this goal, abundant oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups were introduced to molybdenum oxide quantum dot (MoOx QDs) surfaces with dopamine (DA) modification. Due to the excellent coordination ability of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups with uranium, the obtained DA-functionalized MoOx QDs (DA-MoOx QDs) showed a strong binding affinity for uranium and sensitivity was increased nearly 1000-fold compared with MoOx QDs alone. The limit of detection was 3.85 nM, which is higher than most of the reported nanomaterials. Moreover, the DA-MoOx QD-based method showed high selectivity and uranium could be clearly detected under masking with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid even when the concentration of other metal ions was 100-fold higher than that of uranium, showing a very promising method for uranium contamination control and monitoring.
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Pontos Quânticos , Urânio , Dopamina , Humanos , Molibdênio , ÓxidosRESUMO
2D covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) have been recognized as a novel class of photoactive materials owing to their extended π-electron conjugation and high chemical stabilities. Herein, a new covalent organic framework (Tph-BDP) is facilely synthesized by using a porphyrin derivative and an organic dye BODIPY derivative (5,5-difluoro-2,8-diformyl-1,3,7,9-tetramethyl-10-phenyl-5H-dipyrrolo[1,2-c:2',1'-f][1,3,2]diazabori-nin-4-ium-5-uide) as monomers for the first time, and their unique photosensitive properties endow them excellent simulated oxidase activity under 635 nm laser irradiation that can catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Further findings demonstrate that the presence of uranium (UO22+ ) can coordinate with imines of the oxidation products of TMB, thus modulating the charge transfer process of the colored products accompanied with intensive aggregation and remarkable color fading. This research provides a preparation strategy for COFs with excellent photocatalytic properties and nanozyme activity, and broadens the applications of the simple colorimetric methods for sensitive and selective radionuclide detection.
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Estruturas Metalorgânicas , Porfirinas , Urânio , Catálise , ColorimetriaRESUMO
Tuberculosis is one of the main infectious diseases threatening public health, and the development of simple, rapid, and cost-saving methods for tuberculosis diagnosis is of profound importance for tuberculosis prevention and treatment. The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the pathogen that causes tuberculosis, and assaying for MTB is the only criterion for tuberculosis diagnosis. A new enzyme-free method based on strand displacement amplification and magnetic beads was developed for simple, rapid, and cost-saving MTB detection. Under optimum conditions, a good linear relationship could be observed between fluorescence and MTB specific DNA concentration ranging from 0.05 to 150 nM with a correlation coefficient of 0.993 (n = 8) and a detection limit of 47 pM (3σ/K). The present method also distinguished a one base mismatch from MTB specific DNA, showing great promise for MTB genome single base polymorphism analysis. MTB specific DNA content in polymerase chain reaction samples was successfully detected using the new method, and recoveries were 97.8-100.8%, indicating that the present method had high accuracy and shows good potential for the early diagnosis of tuberculosis.
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculose , Humanos , Fenômenos Magnéticos , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
Molybdenum oxide nanomaterials have recently attracted widespread attention for their unique optical properties and catalytic performance. However, until now, there is little literature on the application of photoluminescent molybdenum oxide nanomaterials in biological and pharmaceutical sensing. Herein, photoluminescent molybdenum oxide quantum dots (MoO x QDs) were synthesized via a facile method, and then, the synthesized MoO x QDs were further applied as a new type of photoluminescent probe to design a new off-on sensor for captopril (Cap) determination on the basis of the fact that the quenched photoluminescence of MoO x QDs by Cu2+ was restored with Cap through specific interaction between the thiol group of Cap and Cu2+. Under optimal conditions, the restored photoluminescence intensity showed a good linear relationship with the content of Cap, ranging from 1.0 to 150.0 µM, with a limit of detection of 0.51 µM (3σ/k). Additionally, the content of Cap in pharmaceutical samples was successfully detected with the newly developed off-on sensor, and the recoveries were 99.4-101.7%, which suggest that the present off-on sensor has a high accuracy.
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As a well-studied transition-metal semiconductor material, MoOx has a wider band gap than molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and its property varies dramatically for the existence of several different allotropes and suboxide phases of molybdenum oxides (MoOx, x < 3). In this manuscript, a one-pot method possessing the advantages of one pot, easily prepared, rapid, and environmentally friendly, has been developed for facile synthesis of highly photoluminescent MoOx quantum dots (MoOx QDs), in which commercial molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) powder and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are employed as the precursor and oxidant, respectively. The obtained MoOx QDs can be further utilized as an efficient photoluminescent probe, and a new turn-off sensor is developed for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) determination based on the fact that the photoluminescence of MoOx QDs can be quenched by the Meisenheimer complexes formed in the strong alkali solution through the inner filter effect (IFE). Under the optimal conditions, the decreased photoluminescence of MoOx QDs shows a good linear relationship to the concentration of TNT ranging from 0.5 to 240.0 µM, and the limit of detection was 0.12 µM (3σ/k). With the present turn-off sensor, TNT in river water samples can be rapidly and selectively detected without tedious sample pretreatment processes.
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Molybdenum oxide (MoOx) is a well-studied transition-metal semiconductor material, and has a wider band gap than MoS2 which makes it become a promising versatile probe in a variety of fields, such as gas sensor, catalysis, energy storage ect. However, few MoOx nanomaterials possessing photoluminescence have been reported until now, not to mention the application as photoluminescent probes. Herein, a one-pot method is developed for facile synthesis of highly photoluminescent MoOx quantum dots (MoOx QDs) in which commercial molybdenum disulfide powder and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are involved as the precursor and oxidant, respectively. Compared with current synthesis methods, the proposed one has the advantages of rapid, one-pot, easily prepared, environment friendly as well as strong photoluminescence. The obtained MoOx QDs is further utilized as an efficient photoluminescent probe, and a new off-on sensor has been constructed for phosphate (Pi) determination in complicated lake water samples, attributed to the fact that the binding affinity of Eu(3+) ions to the oxygen atoms from Pi is much higher than that from the surface of MoOx QDs. Under the optimal conditions, a good linear relationship was found between the enhanced photoluminescence intensity and Pi concentration in the range of 0.1-160.0 µM with the detection limit of 56 nM (3σ/k). The first application of the photoluminescent MoOx nanomaterials for ion photochemical sensing will open the gate of employing MoOx nanomaterials as versatile probes in a variety of fields, such as chemi-/bio-sensor, cell imaging, biomedical and so on.
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Água Doce/química , Molibdênio/química , Fosfatos/análise , Pontos Quânticos , Luminescência , Microscopia de Força Atômica , Microscopia Eletrônica de TransmissãoRESUMO
Siliva as a kind of biomarker containing a variety of bioactive components can be used to help disease diagnosis. Compared with the urine and blood, the collection of saliva is more simple and convenient while the collection process is completely non-invasive. Therefore, saliva detection attracts more and more attention in non-invasive disease diagnosis. Histatins are a family of small, cationic, histidine-rich peptides, which secreted by salivary bringing innate defense of the oral cavity. It has been reported that histatins are related to many other diseases, such as HIV and AIDs. Thus the detection of histatins in saliva is significantly important for oral healthy monitoring and disease diagnosis. In this paper, a new label free method for rapid detection of histidine-rich peptides was developed based on the fact that histidine-rich peptides can interact with 3-azidocoumarin through hydrogen bonds which decreases the electron-donating ability of the azido group and results in fluorescence enhancement of the system. The results showed that the fluorescence intensities were dramatically increased when histatin 5 were incubation with 3-azidocoumarin. There is a good relationship with the linear co r of 0.994 between the enhanced fluorescence and histatin 5 concentration ranging from 0.23 to 31.05 µmol·L-1, and the limit of detection is 72 nmol·L-1 (3σ/k). Moreover, the detection of histidine-rich peptides in saliva was successfully achieved by the new developed label free method since amino acids and proteins in saliva will not be interfered with the detection with the recoveries between 96.7%~111.6%. Compared with the existing saliva analysis methods, this method has the advantage of simple, fast and low cost. It might be applied in non-invasive disease diagnosis.
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Saliva , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Histatinas , Histidina , Proteínas e Peptídeos SalivaresRESUMO
We have developed a simple, rapid and label-free sensor for the essential biological OH radicals based on the fluorescence quenching of DNA-templated Ag nanoclusters (DNA-Ag NCs). The OH radicals generated from the Fenton reagent attack and cleave the DNA template, which disturbs the microenvironments around Ag NCs, resulting in spontaneous aggregation due to the lack of stabilization and further the quenching of the Ag NCs fluorescence. These changes in fluorescence intensity allow sensing of OH radicals with good sensitivity and selectivity under optimal conditions. The sensor can be also applied for quantifying the radical scavenging action of antioxidants. Various characterizations including absorption spectra, fluorescence lifetimes, light scattering (LS) spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dark field light scattering imaging, and circular dichroism (CD) spectrometry have been employed to illustrate the proposed sensing mechanism. Further investigations demonstrate that the fluorescent probe could penetrate into intact cell membranes to selectively detect intracellular OH radicals induced by the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation. These advantageous characteristics make the fluorescent DNA-Ag NCs potentially useful as a new candidate to monitor OH in broad biosystems.
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Técnicas Biossensoriais/métodos , DNA/química , Corantes Fluorescentes , Radical Hidroxila/química , Nanopartículas Metálicas , Neuroblastoma/patologia , Prata/química , Dicroísmo Circular , Humanos , Peróxido de Hidrogênio , Ferro , Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão , Neuroblastoma/metabolismo , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
Fluorescent semiconductor quantum dot-graphene oxide (QD-GO) nanocomposites with unique optical properties can be prepared by a facile decoration of aptamer-labelled CdSe@ZnS QDs on GO nanosheets. The formation of such nanocomposites is based on the π-π stacking between the DNA bases on the QD surfaces and the GO. TEM and AFM were used to study the morphologies and distribution of the QDs on the GO surfaces. Steady-state fluorescence spectra, time-resolved fluorescence experiments and fluorescence imaging were employed to study the optical properties of the prepared aptamer-QD-GO nanocomposites. Furthermore, we investigate the potential applications of the nanocomposites in bio-imaging and cell-targeted drug delivery. The QDs decorated on the surfaces of GO could serve as fluorescent labeling probes for tracking the intracellular transport, while the GO combined with the aptamer conjugated on the outside of the nanocomposites facilitates the targeted drug delivery with enhanced loading capability. It is believed that the present aptamer-QD-GO nanocomposite-based nanomedicine would permit the development of more effective means for diagnosing and treating malignancies compared to the currently used methods.