Lysozyme-Decorated Gold and Molybdenum Bimetallic Nanoclusters for the Selective Detection of Bilirubin as a Jaundice Biomarker

Fluorescent nanomaterials have been widely used as sensing probes for the recognition of biological active species or biomarkers. Herein, we have synthesized fluorescent gold and molybdenum bimetallic nanoclusters (Au–Mo NCs) via a one-step reaction using lysozyme (Lys) as a template. The as-synthesized Lys–Au–Mo NCs acted as a fluorescent probe for the specific detection of bilirubin as a jaundice biomarker. The as-fabricated Lys–Au–Mo NCs exhibit a strong emission peak at 642 nm when excited at 490 nm. The Lys–Au–Mo NCs-based fluorescence method exhibited good sensing ability for the detection of bilirubin in the range of 0.125–40.00 μM with a detection limit of 28.26 nM. Furthermore, the as-fabricated Lys–Au–Mo NCs offer a facile and cost-effective analytical strategy for the sensitive identification of bilirubin in biofluids, offering a promising optical probe for the quantification of bilirubin in clinical samples as a jaundice biomarker.