Non-Enzymatic Detection of Cardiac Troponin-I with Graphene Oxide Quenched Fluorescent Iron Nanoclusters (FeNCs)

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is the most resorted biomarker for the detection of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The means of rapid quantification of cTnI levels in the blood can substantially minimize the risk of acute myocardial infarction and heart failure. A sensor for the non-enzymatic evaluation of cardiac troponin-I has been developed using fluorescent iron nanoclusters via a one-pot synthesis employing (BSA) as the template and reducing agent, and hydrogen peroxide as the additive. The fluorescence of Iron Nanocluster is quenched with graphene oxide (GO) via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between conjugate iron nanoclusters and graphene oxide. The sensor shows a low detection limit of 0.011 ng/mL. The benefits of utilizing a non-enzymatic probe for detecting cardiac troponin I is that it avoids the need for enzymes and hence is economical, stable, and less impacted by environmental conditions such as temperature and pH. Non-enzymatic probes are more useful for clinical use since they are more stable and have a longer shelf life. The developed non-enzymatic probes are also highly selective and sensitive to the target analyte, making them suitable for the direct detection of cardiac troponin I in actual biological samples.