Plasmon-enhanced fluorescence for ellagic acid detection based on surface structure of gold nanoparticles

Ellagic acid (EA), as a natural polyphenolic acid, is considered a naturally occurring inhibitor of carcinogenesis. Herein, we developed a plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (PEF) probe for EA detection based on silica-coated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). A silica shell was designed to control the distance between silica quantum dots (Si QDs) and Au NPs. The experimental results indicated that an 8.8-fold fluorescence enhancement was obtained compared with the original Si QDs. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D-FDTD) simulations further demonstrated that the local electric field enhancement around Au NPs led to the fluorescence enhancement. In addition, the fluorescent sensor was applied for the sensitive detection of EA with a detection limit of 0.14 μM. It can be used to detect EA in pomegranate rind with a recovery rate of 100.26–107.93%. It can also be applied to the analysis of other substances by changing the identification substances. These experimental results indicated that the probe provides a good option for clinical analysis and food safety. Graphical Abstract