High-sensitive detection of H2O2 in biological systems by persistent luminescent nanoprobes.

[Display omitted] • Cr3+, Y3+ co-doped ZnGaSnO 4 (ZGSCY) shows enhanced persistent luminescence (PL) with the presence of H 2 O 2 in the solution. • Modification of ZGSCY with organosilica leads to improved dispersibility and enhanced PL intensity in response to H 2 O 2. • The intrinsic and extrinsic response mechanism is elucidated. • ZGSCY enables autofluorescence-free detection of H 2 O 2 in biological systems. Autofluorescence interference in the conventional fluorescence detection of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) in biological systems represents a long-lasting problem in the field of biosensing. Here, we report a Cr3+, Y3+ co-doped ZnGaSnO 4 (ZGSCY) nanoprobes which show long persistent luminescence (PL) that can be specifically enhanced by H 2 O 2 without background fluorescence interference. The mesoporous organosilica are coated on the surface of ZGSCY to enhance the biocompatibility of the nanoprobes. Importantly, PL intensity of the nanoprobes can be further improved, because of the specific response of tetrasulfide bond in organosilica to H 2 O 2. ZGSCY@MON show high-sensitive detection of H 2 O 2 in living cells and human serum with the advantages of high specificity, low detection limit (91 nM), and wide linear range (0.5–60 μM, 60–400 μM). Furthermore, the extraordinary detection capability of H 2 O 2 enables that the successful differentiate normal breast cells from breast cancer cells and the highly sensitive determination of serum glucose and cholesterol. We also clarified that the endogenous response originates from the UV-induced the interfacial electron transfer on ZGSCY regulated by H 2 O 2 and exogenous response stems from the elimination of the adsorption of PL from the organosilica by H 2 O 2. These findings open up a new effective way for autofluorescence-free detection of H 2 O 2 in biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]