A sensitive sensor for anthraquinone anticancer drugs and hsDNA based on CdTe/CdS quantum dots fluorescence reversible control

Based on CdTe/CdS quantum dots (CdTe/CdS QDs) fluorescence (FL) reversible control, a new and sensitive FL sensor for determination of anthraquinone (AQ) anticancer drugs (adriamycin and daunorubicin) and herring sperm DNA (hsDNA) was developed. Under the experimental conditions, FL of CdTe/CdS QDs can be effectively quenched by AQ anticancer drugs due to the binding of AQ anticancer drugs on the surface of CdTe/CdS QDs and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from CdTe/CdS QDs to AQ anticancer drugs. Addition of hsDNA afterwards brought the restoration of CdTe/CdS QDs FL intensity, as AQ anticancer drugs peeled off from the surface of CdTe/CdS QDs and embedded into hsDNA double helix structure. The liner ranges and the detection limits of FL quenching methods for two AQ anticancer drugs were 0.33–9 μg mL−1 and 0.09 μg mL−1 for ADM and 0.15–9 μg mL−1 and 0.04 μg mL−1 for DNR, respectively. The restored FL intensity was proportional to concentration of hsDNA in the range of 1.38–28 μg mL−1and the detection limit for hsDNA was 0.41 μg mL−1. It was applied to the determination of AQ anticancer drugs in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. The reaction mechanism of CdTe/CdS QDs FL reversible control was studied.