A photoluminescent nanocrystal-based signaling protocol highly sensitive to nerve agents and highly toxic organophosphate pesticides.

A photoluminescent II-VI group semiconductor nanocrystal (NC)-based signaling platform composed of thioglycolic acid capped CdS NCs and acetylcholinesterase-acetylthiocholine enzyme catalytic reaction system was developed that was shown to be highly sensitive to nerve agents and toxic organophosphate pesticides with detection limits down to sub-nM levels. This new sensing protocol does not require troublesome conjugation of biomacromolecules onto the surface of NCs.