It was observed that the photoluminescence intensity of cadmium chalcogenides quantum dots (QDs) was altered by some biological relevant metallic ions in aqueous solutions. In particular, copper(II) usually had a significant quenching effect. Hence, standard solid-phase Fmoc-protocol was followed to synthesize Gly-His-Leu-Leu-Cys peptide, which incorporated a Gly-His selective copper(II) binding motif, Leu-Leu hydrophobic segment, and Cys for conjugation with QDs. It was utilized as template for direct synthesis of 2.4 nm CdS QDs toward a more selective fluorometric copper(II) detection system. Micromolar concentrations of copper(II) were detected via photoluminescence quenching. A nanomolar detection limit capability was predicted.

Gattás-Asfura, K. M. and Leblanc, R. M. Chem. Commun. 2003, 2684-2685