High-sensitive detection of H2O2 in biological systems by persistent luminescent nanoprobes

Autofluorescence interference in the conventional fluorescence detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in biological systems represents a long-lasting problem in the field of biosensing. Here, we report a Cr3+, Y3+ co-doped ZnGaSnO4 (ZGSCY) nanoprobes which show long persistent luminescence (PL) that can be specifically enhanced by H2O2 without background fluorescence interference. The mesoporous organosilica are coated on the surface of ZGSCY to enhance the biocompatibility of the nanoprobes. Importantly, PL intensity of the nanoprobes can be further improved, because of the specific response of tetrasulfide bond in organosilica to H2O2. ZGSCY@MON show high-sensitive detection of H2O2 in living cells and human serum with the advantages of high specificity, low detection limit (91 nM), and wide linear range (0.5–60 μM, 60–400 μM). Furthermore, the extraordinary detection capability of H2O2 enables that the successful differentiate normal breast cells from breast cancer cells and the highly sensitive determination of serum glucose and cholesterol. We also clarified that the endogenous response originates from the UV-induced the interfacial electron transfer on ZGSCY regulated by H2O2 and exogenous response stems from the elimination of the adsorption of PL from the organosilica by H2O2. These findings open up a new effective way for autofluorescence-free detection of H2O2 in biological systems.