Visual and Colorimetric Sensing of Metsulfuron-Methyl by Exploiting Hydrogen Bond-Induced Anti-Aggregation of Gold Nanoparticles in the Presence of Melamine

Abstract

Various highly sensitive and selective analytical methods have been used to monitor metsulfuron-methyl residue in the environment. However, these methods involve costly instruments and complex, time-consuming operations performed in laboratories. Here, a rapid, convenient, and sensitive colorimetric sensor based on anti-aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is demonstrated for the rapid detection of metsulfuron-methyl in agricultural irrigation water. The AuNPs could be induced to aggregate in the presence of melamine and exhibited a distinct color change from wine-red to blue. The aggregation was suppressed by a strong hydrogen-bonding interaction between metsulfuron-methyl and melamine. The differences of the absorbance at 523 nm (ΔA523) and the color change was linearly related to metsulfuron-methyl concentration over the range 0.1–100 mg/L, as observed visually and by UV-vis (Ultraviolet-visible) spectrometry. The detection limit of the sensor was as low as 0.05 mg/L (signal/noise = 3), and was used to determine metsulfuron-methyl in spiked water and in agricultural irrigation water samples. Recoveries were in the range of 71.2–100.4%, suggesting that the colorimetric sensor was suitable for the determination of metsulfuron-methyl in agricultural water samples.

Application of Gold-Nanoparticle Colorimetric Sensing to Rapid Food Safety Screening

“…Metsulfuron methyl will specifically bind to melamine molecules by forming hydrogen bonds. The inhibition of aggregation of gold nanoparticles could be applied for quantitative analysis of metsulfuron methyl residues in irrigation water samples [120], and the sensing principle for metsulfuron-methyl was shown in Figure 6. Anti-aggregation sensors are powerful techniques to detect mercury pollution.…”

“…Sensing principle for metsulfuron-methyl analysis based on anti-aggregation of gold nanoparticles. Reproduced with permission from reference [120]. …”

Gold nanoparticle-based optical nanosensors for food and health safety monitoring: recent advances and future perspectives

“…14,124 Especially, the results obtained for colorimetric sensors can be observed by bare-eye. 14,125 However, they have to deal with a risk of false positive/negative results due to aggregation of AuNPs, especially in complex sample matrix. 126,127 Moreover, the inadvertent aggregation of AuNPs may also reduce the sensibility and accuracy of SERS and FRET sensors.…”

Recent Advances and Perspectives of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Fluorescent Sensors in Food and Environment Analysis

“…In contrast, the rapid detection technology is simple, rapid, low-cost, selective, and demonstrates high specificity [26,27,28]. Therefore, it is suitable for rapid screening and monitoring of food quality and safety [29,30,31]. In recent years, the rapid detection technology of food quality and safety hazard factors has developed rapidly.…”