A label-free DNAzyme-cleaving fluorescence method for the determination of trace Pb(2+) based on catalysis of AuPd nanoalloy on the reduction of rhodamine 6G.

The substrate chain of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) could be specifically cleaved by Pb(2+) to release single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that adsorbs onto the AuPd nanoalloy (AuPdNP) to form a stable AuPdNP-ssDNA complex, but the dsDNA can not protect AuPdNPs in large AuPdNP aggregates (AuPdNPA) under the action of NaCl. AuPdNP-ssDNA and large AuPdNPA could be separated by centrifugation. On increasing the concentration of Pb(2+) , the amount of released ssDNA increased; AuPdNP-ssDNA increased in the centrifugation solution exhibiting a catalytic effect on the slow reaction of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and NaH2 PO2 , which led to fluorescence quenching at 552 nm. The decrease in fluorescence intensity (ΔF) was linear to the concentration of Pb(2+) within the range 0.33-8.00 nmol/L, with a detection limit of 0.21 nmol/L. The proposed method was applied to detect Pb(2+) in water samples, with satisfactory results.