The
current work demonstrates the fabrication and optimization
of a fluorescence-based immunosensor for ferritin estimation wherein
amine-functionalized graphene quantum dots (afGQDs) and methyl orange
are used as a fluorophore–quencher couple. The synthesis of
afGQDs is achieved by the hydrothermal method. The synthesized QDs
were characterized using analytical techniques such as UV–vis,
fluorescence, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopies, XRD diffraction studies,
elemental analysis, and morphological studies through transmission
electron microscopy. The QDs showed a quantum yield of 51%, which
is one of the highest reported for this class of material. Exploiting
the high fluorescence of this material, these afGQDs, were conjugated
with antiferritin antibodies (Ab) for specific fluorescence-based
immunosensing of ferritin. The conjugation was confirmed from contact
angle measurements and electrophoresis, which confirmed successful
bioconjugation. With methyl orange (MO) as the quencher, the Stern–Volmer
plot showed a linear upward trend indicating a static quenching process.
After elucidating the quenching mechanism, a nanoprobe-based fluorophore–quencher
(Ab@afGQDs-MO) couple was employed for ferritin sensing. Using a dynamic
linear range from 10 to 4000 ng·mL–1 with an R
2 value of 0.994, a limit of detection of 0.723
ng·mL–1 is achieved. With optimization of other
input parameters, the ferritin is estimated in spiked serum samples
as well.