A copper nanoclusters probe for dual detection of microalbumin and creatinine.

A fluorescent probe based on glutathione-capped copper nanoclusters (GSH-CuNCs) was developed for the detection of dual targets, human serum albumin (HSA) and creatinine, in human urine. The GSH-CuNCs were synthesized by a one-pot green method using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent. The detection of HSA was in a turn-on mode via electrostatic interaction in a basic condition while the detection of creatinine was in a turn-off mode via non-covalent bonding in an acidic condition. Under optimal conditions, the linear range and detection limit of HSA were 5.0 nM to 150 nM and 1.510 ±â€¯0.041 nM, while those of creatinine were 30 µM to 1000 µM and 13.0 ±â€¯1.0 µM. This easily fabricated nanocluster probe provided a fast response with high sensitivity, and good selectivity. Recoveries from urine samples were in the range of 81.44 ±â€¯0.25 to 109.22 ±â€¯0.57% for HSA and 80.57 ±â€¯0.16 to 109.0 ±â€¯0.10% for creatinine. The urinary analytical results from the fluorescent probe were in good agreement (P > 0.05) to those obtained from immunoturbidimetric and enzymatic methods, signifying the excellent performance of this sensing system.