Bovine serum albumin functionalized blue emitting Ti₃C₂ MXene quantum dots as a sensitive fluorescence probe for Fe³⁺ ion detection and its toxicity analysis

Abstract In the present work, an improved class of protein functionalized fluorescent 2D Ti 3 C 2 MXene quantum dots (MXene QDs) was prepared using a hydrothermal method. Exfoliated 2D Ti 3 C 2 sheets were used as the starting precursor and transport protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used to functionalize the MXene QDs. BSA‐functionalized MXene QDs exhibited excellent photophysical property and stability at various physiological parameters. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the BSA@MXene QDs were quasispherical in shape with a size of ~2 nm. The fluorescence intensity of BSA@MXene QDs was selectively quenched in the presence of Fe 3+ ions. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching was further substantiated using time‐resolved fluorescence and Stern–Volmer analysis. The sensing assay showed a linear response within the concentration range 0–150 μM of Fe 3+ ions with excellent limit of detection. BSA@MXene QDs probe showed good selectivity toward ferric ions even in the presence of other potential interferences. The practical applicability of BSA@MXene QDs was further tested in real samples for Fe 3+ ion quantification and the sensor had good recovery rates. The cytotoxicity studies of the BSA@MXene QDs toward the human glioblastoma cells revealed that BSA@MXene QDs are biocompatible at lower doses and showed significant cytotoxicity at higher dosages.

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