Magneto-plasmonic bionanocomposites for onsite SERS detection of water contaminants

abstract

Magneto-plasmonic nanosystems have emerged as important multifunctional structures for several sensing applications, including on-site water quality monitoring. In this scenario, these nanosystems can integrate magnetic assisted separation procedures associated with optical detection of water contaminants, by exploring the surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect (SERS). Among the several modalities proposed for such magneto-plasmonic nanosystems, bionanocomposite particles have not been explored in this context. Hence, this research introduces bionanocomposites comprising magnetite cores that have been coupled to Au nanoparticles (NPs) via an intermediate surface modification step using hybrid shells of trimethyl chitosan-SiO2. The magnetic bionanocomposites were decorated with Au NPs by exploring two methods: their assembly with pre-synthesized Au colloids and as heterogeneous substrates for the in situ synthesis of Au NPs. The resulting magneto-plasmonic nanosystems are responsive to an external magnetic gradient and show the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band ascribed to the Au NPs. Therefore, such multifunctionality was explored here by assessing the SERS performance of the magnetoplasmonic substrates after their use as magnetic nanosorbents for the uptake of organic dyes, specifically methylene blue (MB) and rose bengal (RB), as water contaminant models. The results showed that both types of substrates are effective, though the ex situ bionanocomposites have shown better SERS activity. As such, the latter have been selected to further demonstrate the versatility of the bionanocomposites for the SERS detection of other types of water contaminants, such as salicylic acid (SA), a pharmaceutical compound that is classified as a teratogen substance. Overall, these findings indicate that magnetoplasmonic bionanocomposites, indeed can be explored as more sustainable platforms for analytical purposes, combining the ability for magnetic separation and SERS trace detection.

authors

Sofia F. Soares, Nuno M. A. S. Silva, João Brenheiro, Sara Fateixa, Ana L. Daniel-da-Silva and Tito Trindade

our authors

acknowledgements

This work is financed by Portugal 2020 through European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the frame of CENTRO2020 in the scope of the project BIOMAG, CENTRO- 01-0145-FEDER-181268 and was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/ 50011/2020 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/50011/2020), UIDP/50011/2020 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/50011/ 2020) & LA/P/0006/2020 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/ 0006/2020), financed by national funds through the FCT/ MCTES (PIDDAC). S.F. thanks FCT for her research contract (REF-069-88-ARH-2018), which is funded by national funds (OE) through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I. P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/ 2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19. ALDd- S acknowledges FCT for funding (CEECIND/03075/2018/ CP1559/CT0020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECIND/ 03075/2018/CP1559/CT0020).

Share this project:

Related Publications

We use cookies for marketing activities and to offer you a better experience. By clicking “Accept Cookies” you agree with our cookie policy. Read about how we use cookies by clicking "Privacy and Cookie Policy".