CdSe Quantum Dot Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Application in the Development of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Dual Optical Sensors

In this study, two types of CdSe, including nanoparticles and quantum dots, were synthesized. CdSe quantum dot nanoparticles were prepared via the hydrothermal technique at 140 °C for 8 h. The prepared CdSe materials were used as fluorimetric sensors aimed at the simultaneous analysis and detection of methamphetamine (Metha) as well as carbamazepine (Carba) drugs. Besides, the fluorimetric sensor was assembled depending on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films with two sizes of cadmium selenide quantum dots as fluorophores source. The mechanistic synthesis of the fluorimetric sensor was based on covering the CdSe quantum dot nanoparticle surfaces with MIP film; afterward, a mixture of powdered yellow-CdSe@MIPs (y-CdSe@MIPs) and red-CdSe@MIPs (r-CdSe@MIPs) nanocomposites was applied for the simultaneous optical determination of Metha and Carba. Under optimal conditions, detection limits (DL) of 0.15 and 0.2 nM, as well as linear dynamic ranges (LDR) of 0.5 and 260 nM were acquired for Metha and Carba, respectively. Additionally, the application of the offered optical dual sensor was studied in human blood plasma as well as urine analytes.