Dual-mode manganese dioxide nanosheets and nitrogen-doped molybdenum oxide quantum dots-based smartphone-assisted ratiometric fluorescence probe for butyrylcholinesterase and malachite green detection

There is a need for sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective methods to detect butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and malachite green (MG) in human serum and aquatic products, respectively. Therefore, a dual-mode fluorescence sensing and smartphone-based colorimetric approach was established to detect BChE and MG using manganese dioxide nanosheets (MnO 2 NS) and nitrogen-doped molybdenum oxide quantum dots (N-MoOx QDs). MnO 2 NS catalyses the oxidation of o -phenylenediamine (OPD) to form a yellow fluorescence product, oxOPD, which quenches the blue fluorescence of N-MoOx QDs. The presence of BChE hydrolyses butyrylthiocholine iodide (IBTCh), generating thiocholine that decomposes MnO 2 NS, restoring the blue fluorescence of N-MoOx QDs, and reducing the yellow fluorescence of oxOPD. MG inhibits BChE activity, enhancing N-MoOx QD quenching due to increased oxOPD concentration. Preliminary selectivity assessment indicated that, among the limited number of substances tested in this study, the system showed a pronounced response to MG. Additionally, fluorescence colour changes were captured using a smartphone. This dual-mode method is accurate, convenient, low-cost, and rapid for the detection of BChE in human serum and MG in aquatic products.