A Simple and Eco-Friendly Fluorescent Probe for α-Amylase Detection Based on Hydroxyproply-β-Cyclodextrin-Curcumin Inclusion Complex

Owing to the importance of α-amylase in industry, it is necessary to develop a more simple and practical approach to measure α-amylase activity. Herein, a fluorescence method was established for the detection of α-amylase activity based on hydroxyproply-β-cyclodextrin-curcumin inclusion complex (HP-β-CDs-Cur). Curcumin was utilized as a signal probe, while hydroxyproply-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CDs) was employed both as a substrate of α-amylase and the carrier of curcumin. α-amylase is capable to hydrolyse α-1,4-glycosidic bond on the HP-β-CDs ring, facilitating the detection of its activity through the measurement of the decrease of fluorescence intensity caused by the release of curcumin into the aqueous. The results showed that there was a good linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and α-amylase concentration in the range of 0.065~1.365 U mL⁻¹, and the detection limit was 0.0065 U mL⁻¹. The successful application of this method to evaluate the activities of multiple commercial α-amylases underscores its robustness and reliability.