Copper- or manganese-doped ZnS quantum dots as fluorescent probes for detecting folic acid in aqueous media

3-Mercaptopropionic acid-capped core/shell ZnS:Cu/ZnS and ZnS:Mn/ZnS doped quantum dots (QDs) prepared through hydrothermal methods exhibit high photoluminescence intensity as well as good photostability. These water-dispersible nanoparticles exhibit high fluorescence sensitivity to folic acid due to the high affinity of the carboxylate groups and nitrogen atoms of folic acid towards the Zn surface atoms of the doped dots. Quenching of the fluorescence intensity of the QDs allows the detection of folic acid concentrations as low as 11 μM, thus affording a very sensitive system for the sensing of this biologically active molecule in aqueous solution. The possible quenching mechanism is discussed.