Sensitive optical detection of alkaline phosphatase activity with quantum dots

A simple method has been developed to detect the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) by the changing of fluorescence intensities of the quantum dots (QDs). In this system, the fluorescence intensities of the QDs were quenched by p-nitrophenol (pNP) which was produced in the process of ALP catalytic reaction. A series of linear calibration curves of the activity of ALP were obtained in different pH buffer solutions. The wide linear range was 3–1000 U L−1 and the detection limit was 3 U L−1 (S/N=3). Furthermore, the experimental conditions of biosensor were optimized, and anti-interference ability was presented. The activity of ALP was also detected in serum and the recovery of ALP in serum samples was more than 95%. The excellent performance of this biosensor indicates that it can be used in practice detection of ALP.