Chemiluminescence sensing of aminothiols in biological fluids using peroxymonocarbonate-prepared networked gold nanoparticles

We report a novel approach for preparation of networked gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using reactive oxygen species (i.e., peroxymonocarbonate, HCO4−) as a novel reducing agent, along with nonionic fluorosurfactant (FSN) assistance. The formation mechanism of the networked AuNPs is demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). In this case, HCO4− serves as a reducing agent for the preparation of the networked AuNPs, and further as a strong oxidizing agent attached to the surface of networked AuNPs, which can trigger the strong CL emission from luminol without the addition of H2O2. In addition, FSN can control and stabilize the crystal morphology of the networked AuNPs, and improve the selectivity of the CL detection system for aminothiols. Finally, the networked AuNPs have been applied for ultrasensitive detection of aminothiols in human urine and plasma samples.