A readily synthesizable fluorescent probe DMAT-π-CAP was evaluated for sensitive and selective detection of human serum albumin (HSA). DMAT-π-CAP showed selective turn-on fluorescence at 730 nm in the presence of HSA with more than 720-fold enhancement in emission intensity ([DMAT-π-CAP] = 10 μM), and rapid detection of HSA was accomplished in 3 seconds. The fluorescence intensity of DMAT-π-CAP was shown to increase in HSA concentration-dependent manner (Kd = 15.4 ± 3.3 μM), and the limit of detection of DMAT-π-CAP was determined to be 10.9 nM (0.72 mg/L). The 1:1 stoichiometry between DMAT-π-CAP and HSA was determined, and the displacement assay revealed that DMAT-π-CAP competes with hemin for the unique binding site, which rarely accommodates drugs and endogenous compounds. Based on the HSA-selective turn-on NIR fluorescence property as well as the unique binding site, DMAT-π-CAP was anticipated to serve as a fluorescence sensor for quantitative detection of the HSA level in biological samples with minimized background interference. Thus, urine samples were directly analyzed by DMAT-π-CAP to assess albumin levels, and the results were comparable to those obtained from immunoassay. The similar sensitivity and specificity to the immunoassay along with the simple, cost-effective, and fast detection of HSA warrants practical application of the NIR fluorescent albumin sensor, DMAT-π-CAP, in the analysis of albumin levels in various biological environments.
Keywords: fluorescence; human serum albumin; near infrared; sensor; urine.