Sensitive and Selective Sensor for Biothiols in the Cell Based on the Recovered Fluorescence of the CdTe Quantum Dots−Hg(II) System

Herein, a sensitive and selective sensor for biothiols based on the recovered fluorescence of the CdTe quantum dots (QDs)−Hg(II) system is reported. Fluorescence of QDs could be quenched greatly by Hg(II). In the presence of biothiols, such as glutathione (GSH), homocysteine (Hcy), and cysteine (Cys), however, Hg(II) preferred to react with them to form the Hg(II)−S bond because of the strong affinity with the thiols of biothiols rather than...