Graphene Quantum Dots Anchored Gold Nanorods for Electrochemical Detection of Glutathione

In this manuscript, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) anchored gold nanorods (AuNRs) were prepared using a simple strategy. The formation of such hybrid materials was attained by mixing the GQDs (similar to 2 - 4 nm) and Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) capped AuNRs (length: 40 +/- 3 and width: 20 +/- 2nm) under ultrasonication. The formation of GQDs anchored on the Au nanorod surface was confirmed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The possible complexation between acid groups of GQDs and CTAB capped AuNRs was utilized to reveal by FTIR spectroscopy. Such CTAB-AuNRs-GQDs possess catalytic surface with a high electrocatalytic activity, high sensitivity and selectivity for electrochemical determination of Glutathione (GSH) with a low detection limit of 0.23 mu M and sensitivity of 1.49 mu A mu M-1. Prominently, the CTAB-AuNRs-GQDs-based electrochemical biosensor has revealed great potential application for determination of GSH levels in real samples.