Highly luminescent zinc(II)-bis(8-hydroxyquinoline) complex nanorods: sonochemical synthesis, characterizations, and protein sensing

Highly luminescent zinc(II)-bis(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Znq(2)) complex nanorods have been synthesized via a sonochemical route from the microemulsion containing zinc acetate and 8-hydroxyquinoline. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the products were rod-like morphology with a diameter of about 200-450 nm and a length of about 1-3 microm. A possible mechanism for the formation of Znq(2) nanorods is proposed that the ultrasound wave might urge the collision and fusion of initial Znq(2) nuclei to form nanorods. The photoluminescence (PL) and resonance light scattering (RLS) of the products were also investigated. The Znq(2) nanorods were found to be sensitive to several proteins, such as human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), bovine hemoglobin (Hb), and egg albumin (EA), displaying an increase in intensities of both PL and RLS. The protein-concentration dependence of the PL and RLS intensities can be well described as a Langmuir-type binding isotherm. This is the first report on the enhancement of PL and RLS intensities of Znq(2) nanorods by proteins. On the basis of enhanced PL and RLS intensities, the protein could be detected at the nanogram per milliliter level. The experimental results clearly showed that the Znq(2) nanorods were good protein probes for easy and highly sensitive detection.