A fluorescence turn-on strategy to achieve detection of captopril based on Ag nanoclusters

In our study, firstly, the water-soluble silver nanoclusters were synthesized by a simple method utilizing glutathione ligand. Based on the turn-on strategy, the nanomaterial were irradiated by excited light at 470 nm and generated emission spectra at wavelength of 620 nm. Due to the sulfhydryl structure of captopril, silver-sulfur bonds (Ag-S) could be formed on the surface of silver nanoclusters. As the second ligand, it protects the surface of nanoclusters to promote electron transfer and enhance fluorescence intensity. Therefore, captopril can be determined according to the fluorescence enhancement degree.