Enzyme free glucose sensing by amino-functionalized silicon quantum dot

Silicon quantum dots have become one of the most popular nanomaterials in biological applications for their excellent biocompatibility and optical properties. Herein, we synthesized amino-functionalized silicon quantum dots (NH ₂ @SiQDs) via a simple microemulsion method, in which silicon tetrachloride and allylamine were used as source of silicon and functional group. NH ₂ @SiQDs exhibits good water-solubility, high fluorescence quantum yield and optical stability. A non-enzymatic biosensor of glucose was developed based on the fluorescence quenching of NH ₂ @SiQDs in response to glucose. The fluorescence response was linearly proportional to glucose in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10 ⁻⁶ –9.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol/L and the detection limit was determined to be 3.0 × 10 ⁻⁷ mol/L. The developed glucose sensor was successfully applied in blood glucose analysis of human serum. Satisfactory result that agreed very well with traditional method was obtained.