A fluorescent carbon dots probe for the detection of aqueous nitrite was fabricated by a one-pot hydrothermal method, and the transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer, UV–Vis absorption spectrometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer were used to study the property of carbon dots. The fluorescent property of carbon dots influenced by the concentration of aqueous nitrite was studied. The interaction between the electron-donating functional groups and the electron-accepting nitrous acid could account for the quenching effect on carbon dots by adding aqueous nitrite. The products of the hydrolysis of aqueous nitrite performed a stronger quenching effect at lower pH. The relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity of carbon dots and the concentration of nitrite was described by the Stern–Volmer equation (I₀/I − 1 = 0.046[Q]) with a fine linearity (R² = 0.99). The carbon dots-based probe provides a convenient method for the detection of nitrite concentration.

A novel fiber optic biosensor for the determination of adrenaline based on immobilized laccase catalysis and fluorescence quenching was designed and fabricated. The immobilized laccase formed by the immobilization of laccase on the CuTAPc-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles composite were used to catalyze the oxidation of adrenaline and the fluorescent oxygen-sensing membrane was used to detect the consumption of oxygen. The effects of pH and temperature on laccase activity using adrenaline as the substrate were studied. The optimal pH and temperature for the activity of immobilized laccase are 5.0 and 55°C, respectively. The immobilized laccase has good thermal, storage and operation stability. The lock-in technology was used to detect the change of the life time of the oxygen-sensing membrane. By using ABTS as the electron mediator, the biosensor showed a response time of 30 sec. The biosensor has good performance in the adrenaline concentration ranges of 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 9.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/l and 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 9.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol/l, and it also shows good stability.