Most of the fluorescence sensors
require choline oxidase or quenchers
to detect organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) based on a single hydrolysate
and suffer from high cost, complex procedures, weak stability, and
low sensitivity. Here, we proposed a brand-new fluorescence strategy
for highly sensitive detection of OPs based on both hydrolysate-response
disulfide bond-functionalized gold nanoclusters (S-S-AuNCs) without
additional substances. S-S-AuNCs were synthesized via a facile one-step
redox reaction and emitted bright red light with ultrasmall size and
high water dispersion. Interestingly, S-S-AuNCs displayed a unique
response to thiol compounds and low pH values and were thus pioneered
as a high-efficiency sensor for OPs based on acetylcholinesterase
(AChE)-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine into thiocholine
and CH3COOH and OP inhibition of AChE activity. Further,
S-S-AuNCs were employed to monitor the residue, distribution, and
metabolization of methidathion in pakchoi with acceptable results.
We believe that this work supplies a simpler and more highly sensitive
approach for OP assay than the known ones and opens a new avenue to
development of multistimulus-responsive and high-performance fluorescence
substances.