Colorimetric kinetic determination of potassium ions based on the use of a specific aptamer and catalytically active gold nanoparticles

We describe a simple, highly sensitive, and selective colorimetric kinetic assay for the determination of potassium(I) by exploiting the specific recognition capability of an appropriate aptamer and catalytic signal amplification by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Amplification is based on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by borohydride which is catalyzed by AuNPs. This leads to a color change of the solution from yellow to colorless, and the color change can be recognized with bare eyes or via photometry. The K(I)-selective aptamer is placed on the AuNPs and forms a tightly bound G-quadruplex with K(I) which partially masks the surface of the AuNPs and prevents 4-nitrophenol to be reduced at the catalytically active surface of the AuNPs. Hence, the rate of decoloration is retarded. The assay displays high selectivity for K(I) over other cations, has a linear response in the 0.1 nM to 10 μM concentration range, and a detection limit as low as 0.06 nM. In addition, these findings pave the way to novel analytical methods based on the use of gold nanoparticle-catalyzed chemical reactions.