Sensing Polymer/Paracetamol Interaction with an Independent Component Analysis-Based SERS-MIP Nanosensor

Abstract

In this article, we propose a new strategy to build a sensor for easy handling and rapid analysis on-site. Our sensor is based on the combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). SERS provides a strong sensitivity for the detection of trace molecules while MIPs offer a highly selective and specific recognition platform. The research presented here focuses on the detection of the interaction between a robust ultra-thin layer of MIPs and of paracetamol, the targeted molecule. This drug is an environmental emerging pollutant, i.e., a molecule whose presence and significance have not yet been elucidated, which gives rise to health and environmental concerns. The results are a combined analysis of the SERS spectra and a multivariate analysis. The former provides a clear demonstration of the evolution of the MIP-nanostructure interaction when the concentration of paracetamol increases. The statistical analysis produces the proof of the selectivity of the sensor

New Mechanism for Long Photo‐Induced Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in Au Nanoparticles Embedded in TiO2

“…Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is known for its high sensitivity and has been widely applied to the detection of biomarkers and molecules. [ 1–5 ] Researchers have reported enhancing factors up to 10 14[ 6–8 ] and some even claim that it is possible to detect a single molecule. [ 9,10 ] The understanding of the origin of SERS allow to go further than the simple detection of chemicals.…”

Local Surface Chemistry Dynamically Monitored by Quantitative Phase Microscopy

“…[ 58–61 ] Over the past decade, several groups have started to investigate the potential of diazonium photochemistry for local surface modification, usually with the help of plasmonic nanoantennas to localize the optical near‐field (and therefore the grafting reaction) in their vicinity. [ 62,63 ] Such strategies were used to reveal the electric field distribution around nanometric objects [ 64,65 ] and develop sensors, [ 66,67 ] among others. Intriguingly, much less attention has been paid to the direct photoreduction of diazonium salts, which can in principle be used to print patterns onto surfaces with resolution only limited by light diffraction.…”

The Use of Computational Methods for the Development of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

“…In other cases, multivariate methods have been used to reveal correlations hidden in the data obtained when evaluating MIPs. Different combinations of PCA and PLSR methods have been applied for interpretation of MIP binding data obtained from SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) [ 635 , 636 , 637 , 638 , 639 , 640 , 641 , 642 , 643 , 644 ], for pattern recognition in the responses from various MIP-sensor arrays [ 645 , 646 , 647 , 648 , 649 , 650 , 651 , 652 , 653 , 654 , 655 , 656 , 657 , 658 , 659 , 660 ], to correlate the shape of MIP-quartz crystal microbalance frequency curves to different analytes [ 106 , 661 , 662 , 663 ], for cyclic voltammetry measurements on binary mixtures [ 214 , 656 , 664 , 665 ] and for correlating the results with HPLC data [ 665 ] and to process fluorescence data [ 666 ]. PLSR and PCA have also been used to correlate bupivacaine–MIP binding with rebinding solvent properties [ 667 , 668 ] and with polymer morphology and pre-polymerization interactions from MD simulations [ 403 ].…”