Synthesis and characterization of biocompatible carbon-gold (C-Au) nanocomposites and their biomedical applications as an optical sensor for creatinine detection and cellular imaging

Abstract

There is an ever increasing demand for simple and novel methods for determining clinically important metabolites as indicators of intrinsic health of humans. Among many heath indicating metabolites, creatinine (2-amino-1-methyl-5H-imidazol-4-one) is one of the important catabolic end product. It is naturally produced by the body and is filtered from the bloodstream by the kidneys in relatively constant amount every day. The measurement of creatinine level in human blood and urine is clinically essential, because it reflects the renal, muscular and thyroid functions. It is also useful for biomedical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and is a quantitative description of the hemodialysis therapy [1]. The normal physiological concentration of creatinine in blood is 0.45–1.6 mg/dL, however, it can exceeds up to 11.31 mg/dL in certain pathological conditions. The physiological value 5.6 mg/dL indicates severe renal impairment ultimately leading to dialysis or