BSA–AuNPs@Tb–AMP metal–organic frameworks for ratiometric fluorescence detection of DPA and Hg2+

Abstract An easy and effective strategy for synthesizing a ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor has been demonstrated in this work. Novel fluorescent BSA–AuNPs@Tb–AMP (BSA, bovine serum albumin; AMP, adenosine 5′‐monophosphate; AuNPs, Au nanoparticles) metal–organic framework (MOF) nanostructures were synthesized by encapsulating BSA–AuNPs into Tb–AMP MOFs for the detection of 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) and Hg2+. DPA could strongly co‐ordinate with Tb3+ to replace water molecules from the Tb3+ center and accordingly enhanced the fluorescence of Tb–AMP MOFs. The fluorescence of BSA–AuNPs at 405 nm remained constant. While the fluorescence of BSA–AuNPs at 635 nm was quenched after Hg2+ was added, the fluorescence of Tb–AMP MOFs remained constant. Accordingly, a ratiometric fluorescence nanosensor was constructed for detection of DPA and Hg2+. The ratiometric nanosensor exhibited good selectivity to DPA over other substances. The F545/F405 linearly increased with increase of DPA concentration in the range of 50 nM to 10 μM with a detection limit as low as 17.4 nM. F635/F405 increased linearly with increase of Hg2+ concentration ranging from 50 nM to 1 μM with a detection limit as low as 20.9 nM. Additionally, the nanosensor could be successfully applied for the determination of DPA and Hg2+ in running water.