SERS-based pesticide detection by using nanofinger sensors

Nanotechnology. 2015 Jan 9;26(1):015502. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/1/015502. Epub 2014 Dec 9.

Abstract

Simple, sensitive, and rapid detection of trace levels of extensively used and highly toxic pesticides are in urgent demand for public health. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sensor was designed to achieve ultrasensitive and simple pesticide sensing. We developed a portable sensor system composed of high performance and reliable gold nanofinger sensor strips and a custom-built portable Raman spectrometer. Compared to the general procedure and previously reported studies that are limited to laboratory settings, our analytical method is simple, sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective. Based on the SERS results, the chemical interaction of two pesticides, chlorpyrifos (CPF) and thiabendazole (TBZ), with gold nanofingers was studied to determine a fingerprint for each pesticide. The portable SERS-sensor system was successfully demonstrated to detect CPF and TBZ pesticides within 15 min with a detection limit of 35 ppt in drinking water and 7 ppb on apple skin, respectively.

MeSH terms

  • Chlorpyrifos / analysis
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Pesticides / analysis*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / instrumentation*
  • Thiabendazole / analysis

Substances

  • Pesticides
  • Gold
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Thiabendazole