Cholesterol determination using protein-templated fluorescent gold nanocluster probes

Abstract

We describe the development of a fluorescent biosensor platform for soluble cholesterol based on bovine serum albumin-stabilized gold nanocluster probes co-dissolved with cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) in a surfactant emulsion system. Selective enzymatic oxidation of cholesterol to cholest-4-en-3-one by ChOx produces stoichiometric amounts of H₂O₂ by-product, generating a quenching response signaling the presence of cholesterol at clinically relevant levels (LOD ∼12 μM).