Beta-cyclodextrin-modified CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for sensing and chiroselective analysis.

Beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD)-functionalized CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are used for optical sensing and chiroselective sensing of different substrates using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or an electron transfer (ET) mechanisms. The FRET between the QDs and Rhodamine B incorporated in the beta-CD receptor sites is used for the competitive analysis of adamantanecarboxylic acid and of p-hydroxytoluene. Also, the dye-incorporated beta-CD-modified QDs are used for the chiroselective optical discrimination between D,L-phenylalanine and D,L-tyrosine. The receptor-functionalized QDs are also implemented for the optical detection of p-nitrophenol using an ET quenching route.