Silicon nanowire-based fluorescent nanosensor for complexed Cu2+ and its bioapplications.

A silicon nanowires (SiNWs)-based fluorescent sensor for complexed Cu(2+) was realized. High sensitivity and selectivity of the present sensor facilitate its bioapplications. The sensor was successfully used to detect the Cu(2+) in liver extract. Meanwhile, real-time and in situ monitoring of Cu(2+) released from apoptotic HeLa cell was performed using the as-prepared SiNW arrays-based sensor. These results indicate that the present SiNWs-based sensor would be of potential applications in revealing the physiological and pathological roles of Cu(2+).