Silicon Nanowire-Based Fluorescent Nanosensor for Complexed Cu2+ and its Bioapplications

A silicon nanowires (SiNWs)-based fluorescent sensor for complexed Cu2+ was realized. High sensitivity and selectivity of the present sensor facilitate its bioapplications. The sensor was successfully used to detect the Cu2+ in liver extract. Meanwhile, real-time and in situ monitoring of Cu2+ released from apoptotic HeLa cell was performed using the as-prepared SiNW arrays-based sensor. These results indicate that the present SiNWs-based sensor would be of potential applications in revealing the physiological and pathological roles of Cu2+.