Smart nano-architectures as potential sensing tools for detecting heavy metal ions in aqueous matrices

The discharge of heavy metal ions into water resources as a result of human activities has become a global issue. Contamination with heavy metal ions poses a major threat to the environment and human health. Therefore, there is a dire need to probe the presence of heavy metal ions in a more selective, facile, quick, cost-effective and sensitive way. Conventional sensors are being utilized to sense heavy metal ions; however, various challenges and limitations like interference, overlapping of oxidation potential, selectivity and sensitivity are associated with them that limit their in-field applicability. Hence, nanomaterial based chemical sensors have emerged as an alternative substitute and are extensively employed for the detection of heavy metal ions as a potent analytical tool. The incorporation of nanomaterials in sensors increases their sensitivity, selectivity, portability, on-site detection capability and device performance. Nanomaterial based electrodes exhibit enhanced performance because surface of electrode at nano-scale level offers high catalytic potential, large active surface area and high conductivity. Therefore, this review addresses the recent progress on chemical sensors based on different nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metal nanoparticles, graphene, carbon quantum dots and nanocomposites for sensing heavy metals ions using different sensing approaches. Furthermore, various types of optical sensors such as fluorescence, luminescence and colorimetry sensors have been presented in detail.     

A selective optical sensor for antimony based on hexagonal mesoporous structures

Mesostructured materials show promise in fabricating ordered sensing systems in a reproducible manner. Here, the fabrication of optically selective and sensitive sensors up to subnanomolar concentrations of Sb(III) ions was reported via simple and reproducible techniques in which the hexagonal mesoporous silicas in powder and monolith forms were used as probe carriers. Evidence of successful fabrication of the optical sensors was investigated by extensive characterizations using powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, 29Si NMR spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The mesostructured features allowed high adsorption capacity and accessibility of probe molecules and efficient transport of toxic species via much more direct and easier diffusion to the network sites without significant alteration of their physical characteristics, leading to excellent sensing systems in terms of stability and sensitivity with rapid response time of detection. In addition, the high performance of the hexagonal sensors was dependent on key factors such as the number of support-based sensors, the reaction temperature, and the pH value that led to possible naked-eye detection of Sb(III) ion concentration with a detection limit as low as 3x10(-9) mol/dm3 and a wide detection range of 1 ppb-2 ppm. Of particular interest was that our mesostructured sensor design provided control over the retention of the potential functionality of the naked-eye sensing system of Sb(III) ions upon the storage and even after several regeneration and reuse cycles, indicating large-scale reversibility of sensing systems.     

Optimizing integrated optical chips for label-free (bio-)chemical sensing

Label-free sensing is an important method for many (bio-)chemical applications in fields such as biotechnology, medicine, pharma, ecology and food quality control. The broad range of applications includes liquid refractive index sensing, molecule detection, and the detection of particles or cells. Integrated optics based on the use of waveguide modes offers a great potential and flexibility to tailor the sensor properties to these applications. In this paper, the results of a numerical study are presented, showing that this flexibility is founded on the many degrees of freedom that can be used for the integrated optical chip design, in contrast to other technologies such as those based on surface plasmon resonance, for which the materials' properties limit the range of choices. The applications that are explicitly considered and discussed include (1) bulk refractometry, (2) thin-layer sensing, for example biosensors monitoring molecular adsorption processes occurring within some 10 nm of the chip's surface, (3) thick-layer sensing with processes involving molecules or ions to be monitored within a sensing matrix extending to some 100 nm from the chip's surface, for example hydrogel-based layers and chemo-optically sensitive membranes, and (4) particle sensing with particles or, for example, biological cells to be monitored within probe volumes extending to some 1,000 nm from the chip's surface. The peculiarities for the different types of applications will be discussed, and suitable modeling methods presented. Finally, the application-specific design guidelines supplied will enable the optimization of various types of integrated optical sensors, including interferometers and grating-based sensors.     

Preparation of ion-imprinted silica gels functionalized with glycine, diglycine, and triglycine and their adsorption properties for copper ions

We report a new procedure for modifying the surface of silica gels with glycine, diglycine, and triglycine in the presence of copper ions to create a new type of copper-imprinted sorbent, which exhibits a high adsorption capacity and selectivity for copper ions. Our results show that copper adsorbed onto the copper-imprinted silica gel is 50% higher than that on nonimprinted silica gel at pH 4.5. The high adsorption capacity observed for the copper-imprinted silica gel is attributed to the stable copper complexes formed with two adjacent glycine, diglycine, or triglycine molecules with proper intermolecular distances obtained from the ion-imprinting procedure. Another possible reason for the high adsorption capacity is that the ion-imprinting procedure prevents the surface from being overcrowded; therefore, copper ions can form very stable 1:1 complexes with immobilized diglycine or triglycine. Interestingly, the imprinting effect is even more pronounced when the adsorption experiments are conducted in the presence of competing metal ions such as magnesium and calcium. The copper-imprinted silica gel exhibits a higher adsorption capacity than does the nonimprinted silica gel for all pH values, even when the concentrations of magnesium and calcium are 50 and 76 times higher than the concentration of copper.     

A ‘turn-on’ fluorescent sensor for the selective detection of cobalt and nickel ions in aqueous media

Two newly designed turn-on fluorescein-based chemosensors are highly sensitive and selective for Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ in both absorption and emission modes, normally difficult to achieve with these paramagnetic ions. Binding to both ions is reversible, as indicated by the bleaching of the color when the metal is extracted with EDTA. Given the difficulty of designing enhanced fluorescent sensors for paramagnetic Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions, the fluorescein compounds may inspire the further development of more sophisticated sensing constructs for the detection of these ions.     

Turning fluorescent dyes into Cu(II) nanosensors

There is great interest in the self-organization of the proper subunits as a new strategy for the realization of fluorescent chemosensors. In this article, it is shown that commercially available fluorescent dyes, functionalized with triethoxysilane moieties, can be converted into fluorescent chemosensors by simple inclusion into silica nanostructures. Dye-doped silica nanoparticles and thin films detect Cu(II) ions in the micromolar range by the quenching of fluorescence emission. The different response toward Zn(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) metal ions was also investigated and is reported. The self-organization of the silica structures leads, at the same time, to the formation of metal ion binding sites as well as to the linking of a fluorescent reporter in their proximity. Structural features of the materials, particularly particle size and network porosity, strongly affect their ability to act as fluorescent sensors.     

Fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for detection of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions

Exposure to even very low levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions is known to cause neurological, reproductive, cardiovascular, and developmental disorders, which are more serious problems for children particularly. Accordingly, great efforts have been devoted to the development of fluorescent and colorimetric sensors, which can selectively detect lead, cadmium, and mercury ions. In this critical review, the fluorescent and colorimetric sensors are classified according to their receptors into several categories, including small molecule based sensors, calixarene based chemosensors, BODIPY based chemosensors, polymer based chemosensors, DNA functionalized sensing systems, protein based sensing systems and nanoparticle based sensing systems (197 references).     

Turn on Fluorescence Sensing of Zn2+ Based on Fused Isoindole-Imidazole Scaffold

Optical chemosensors caused a revolution in the field of sensing due to their high specificity, sensitivity, and fast detection features. Imidazole derivatives have offered promising features in the literature as they bear suitable donor/acceptor groups for the selective analytes in the skeleton. In this work, an isoindole-imidazole containing a Schiff base chemosensor (1-{3-[(2-Diethylamino-ethylimino)-methyl]-2-hydroxy-5-methyl-phenyl}-2H-imidazo[5,1-a]isoindole-3,5-dione) was designed and synthesized. The complete sensing phenomena have been investigated by means of UV-Vis, fluorescence, lifetime measurement, FT-IR, NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques. The optical properties of the synthesized ligand were investigated in 3:7 HEPES buffer:DMSO medium and found to be highly selective and sensitive toward Zn²⁺ ion through a fluorescence turn-on response with detection limit of 0.073 μm. Furthermore, this response is effective in gel form also. The competition studies reveal that the response of the probe for Zn²⁺ ion is unaffected by other relevant metal ions. The stoichiometric binding study was performed utilizing Job’s method which indicated a 1:1 sensor–Zn²⁺ ensemble. Computational calculations were performed to pinpoint the mechanism of sensing.     

Ferrocene-thiophene dyads with azadiene spacers: electrochemical, electronic and cation sensing properties

The synthesis, electrochemical, electronic and cation sensing properties of ferrocene-thiophene ligands, linked by 2-aza-1,3-butadiene bridges, whose characteristics have been systematically varied by introducing the ferrocene moiety at the 1- or 4-position of the aza bridge, are presented. Spectroelectrochemical studies revealed the presence of low-energy bands in the partially oxidized forms, which indicate the existence of intramolecular electron-transfer between the iron center and the organic bridges. Some of the reported ligands have also shown to be efficient chemosensors for metal ions. Compounds 5a and 5b function as highly selective chemosensors for Mg2+ ions, while not showing any response to Ca2+ or alkali metal ions, whereas ligand 3b shows a selective sensing response to the soft Cd2+ metal ions over Hg2+ cations.     

表面印迹法制备钴(Ⅱ)离子印迹硅胶及性能

采用表面印迹技术, 以Co(Ⅱ)离子作为印迹离子, 二乙烯三胺基丙基三甲氧基硅烷为功能分子, 硅胶为支撑物, 环氧氯丙烷为交联剂, 在硅胶表面制备Co(Ⅱ)离子印迹硅胶材料, 利用红外光谱仪、扫描电镜和热重分析仪等进行了表征, 采用平衡吸附法研究了印迹硅胶材料的吸附性能和选择识别能力. 结果表明, 印迹硅胶材料和非印迹硅胶材料的最大吸附量分别为35.2和6.5 mg/g; 印迹硅胶材料对Co(Ⅱ)离子的吸附行为符合Langmuir模型; 20 min即可达到吸附平衡; 当pH=3.9~7.8时, 印迹硅胶材料保持了较好的吸附容量; 印迹硅胶材料对Co(Ⅱ)离子具有较强的选择性识别能力; 重复使用时性能稳定.     

Dynamic Adsorption and Desorption Behaviors of Cu(II), Ag(I), and Au(III) on Silica Gel Microspheres Encapsulated by Salicylic Acid–Functionalized Polystyrene

Composite material silica gel microspheres encapsulated by salicylic acid functionalized polystyrene(SG–PS–azo–SA) have been synthesized, and the dynamic adsorption and desorption properties of this silica gel matrix inorganic–organic composite material for Cu(II), Ag(I), and Au(III) have been investigated. The results displayed that SG–PS–azo–SA had excellent adsorption for Cu(II), and the film diffusion dominated the adsorption process of SG–PS–azo–SA for Cu(II), Ag(I), and Au(III). These metal ions could be desorbed with the eluent solution of 2.5 mol/L HCl, 3% thiourea in 0.5 mol/L HCl, and 0.5% thiourea in 1 mol/L HCl, respectively. When the elution was carried out for 30 min, 30 min, and 132 min, the desorption ratio ω could reach 91.1%, 99.4%, and 60.84%, respectively. Thus, silica gel encapsulated by polystyrene coupled with salicylic acid (SG–PS–azo–SA) is favorable and useful for the removal of metal ions Cu(II), Ag(I), and Au(III), and the high adsorption capacity make it a promising candidate material for the metal ions removal.     

Preparation of Fluorescent Thiol Group‐Functionalized Silica Microspheres for the Detection and Removal of Silver Ions in Aqueous Solutions

We demonstrate that silica microspheres can act as a sensitive fluorescent sensor and adsorbent of Ag⁺ in aqueous media. These thiol‐functionalized silica microspheres are doped with quantum dots (QDs) using organosilane chemistry in a one‐step preparation. Ligand exchange takes place between the thiolated organosilane and acid‐capped QDs, making the doping easy. Ag⁺ adsorption by the silica microspheres causes the decrease of fluorescence intensity of the QDs. The detection limit for Ag⁺ is found to be 10 μmol/L. The abundance of thiol groups on the surface of the microspheres could effectively remove Ag⁺ through strong interaction. When microspheres with a diameter of 1.1 μm are used as the adsorbents, the adsorption capacity for Ag⁺ reached 102 mg/g. This excellent adsorption ability is due to the abundance of thiol groups that act as the active sites, facilitating the adsorption of the massive metal ions on the surface of the microspheres. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherm data follows the Freundlich model. The structure and content of the silica microspheres were investigated by scanning and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and Raman analysis, and the fluorescence properties were characterized by fluorescence microscopy.     

Functionalized hexagonal mesoporous silica monoliths with hydrophobic azo-chromophore for enhanced Co(II) ion monitoring

We introduce here new optical strips for the colorimetric monitoring of Co(II) ions in an aqueous solution. The optical nanosensors were designed by direct immobilizing azo-chromophore with long hydrophobic tails onto hexagonal mesoporous silica monoliths (HOM-2). Although, azo-dye probe was used as signaling reporter for selective detection of the Co(II) analyte up to 10⁻⁶ mol/dm³ in solution, the tailoring of the Co(II) ion-sensing functionality was successfully manipulated up to 10⁻⁹ mol/dm³ with the incorporation of azo-chromophore into hexagonal mesoporous silica monoliths (HOM-2), which led to small, easy-to-use optical sensor strips. However, our simple design of colorimetric sensors is based on a physical adsorption of chemically responsive dyes onto HOM materials followed by stronger dye-analyte interactions in aqueous sensing systems. No elution of the probe molecules was evident with the addition of Co(II) analyte ions during the sensing process. The binding of Co(II) ions with probes led to the color change of nanosensors corresponding to the formation of the metal-chelate [Co(II)-Probe] ⁿ⁺ complexes. Results indicated that hexagonal nanosensors offer one-step and simple sensing procedures for both quantification and visual detection of Co(II) ions without the need for sophisticated instruments. However, the solid HOM-2 materials immobilized by the these indicator dyes, in principle, could be used as preconcentrators to yield high adsorption capacity and preconcentration efficiency, leading to simultaneously visual inspection and simple detection over a wide, adjustable range of Co(II) ions even at trace levels. For Co(II) ion selectivity assays, negligible changes in either the developed color or the reflectance intensities of the [Co-Probe] ⁿ⁺ complex were observed, despite the addition of competitive cations. Moreover, the hexagonal nanosensors are reversible and have the efficient potential to serve for multiple analyses. Hexagonal optical strips for the colorimetric monitoring of Co(II) ions in an aqueous solution was successfully fabricated. This strip enabled to create ion-sensitive responses with revisable, selective and sensitive recognitions of a wide range of detectable Co(II) ions down to sub-nanomolar (∼15×10⁻⁹ M) in rapid sensing responses (in the order of minutes) This special Festschrift for Professor Jaroniec.     

基于荧光内滤效应的荧光增强型钠离子光纤传感器

在吸收型钠离子光化学传感器的敏感膜中加入合适的荧光试剂,应用荧光内滤效应研制成的荧光增强型光纤传感器,在测量灵敏度和抗背景干扰能力方面均有较大的改善,对血清和矿泉水样品中的钠离子含量进行了分析,获得了满意的结果。     

Rhodamine-based chemosensing monolayers on glass as a facile fluorescent "turn-on" sensing film for selective detection of Pb2+

Rhodamine-based chemosensors 1 and 2 were synthesized and self-assembled onto glass surfaces for the selective fluorescent sensing of Pb(2+). The immobilized chemosensors showed fluorescent responses that were turned-on with Pb(2+) in CH(3)CN, selectively over various metal ions. The Pb(2+)-selective fluorescent switch of the immobilized chemosensors was also reversible, allowing for repeated use for Pb(2+) detection.     

Recent Advances in Luminescent Recognition and Chemosensing of Iodide in Water

This Minireview covers the latest developments of chemosensors based on transition‐metal receptors and organic fluorophores with specific binding sites for the luminescent detection and recognition of iodide in aqueous media and real samples. In all selected examples within the last decade (made‐post 2010), the iodide sensing and recognition is probed by monitoring real‐time changes of the fluorescence or phosphorescence properties of the chemosensors. This review highlights effective strategies to iodide sensing from a structural approach where the iodide recognition/sensing process, through supramolecular interactions as coordination bonds, hydrogen bonds, halogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, is transduced into an optical change easily measurable. The selective iodide sensing is an active field of research with global interest due to the importance of iodide in biological, medicinal, industrial, environmental and chemical processes.     

Highly selective chromogenic and redox or fluorescent sensors of Hg2+ in aqueous environment based on 1,4-disubstituted azines

Two new chemosensors that exhibit high affinity and high selectivity for Hg2+ in aqueous environment which operate through two different channels, optic/redox and optic/fluorescent, are reported. The optical change in sensing can be used even for a "naked-eye" detection of Hg2+ ions, whereas the fluorescent response can be modulated by varying the solvent polarity.     

核酸适配体-荧光传感技术在重金属检测领域的应用

重金属污染环境后难以自然降解或无害化,进入有机体后有较强的生物蓄积性,会对环境安全和人类健康造成巨大威胁;此外,有些高毒重金属离子还可作为蓄意投毒、威胁恐吓的恐怖剂.因此,对环境中的重金属离子实现快速、现场检测尤为重要.传统仪器检测方法前处理复杂、成本高、操作需要专业人员,现场应用受限.近年来随着技术的发展和新材料的应...     

Selective solid phase extraction of trace cadmium(II) and lead(II) from biological and natural water samples by ofloxacin-modified-silica gel

Ofloxacin was successfully used as a chemical modifier to improve the reactivity of silica gel in terms of selective binding and extraction of heavy metal ions. This new functionalised silica gel (SG-ofloxacin) was as an effective sorbent for the solid-phase extraction (SPE) of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in biological and natural water samples and their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace levels of Cd(II) and Pb(II) were optimised with respect to different experimental parameters using the batch and column procedures. The time for 70% sorption for Cd(II) and Pb(II) was less than 2 min. Complete elution of the adsorbed metal ions from the SG-ofloxacin was carried out using 2.0 mL of 0.5 mol L^?1 of HCl. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and determination at pH 4.0. The maximum static adsorption capacity of the sorbent at optimum conditions was found to be 39.17 and 48.69 mg g^?1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The detection limits of the method were found to be 0.29 and 0.13 ng mL^?1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the method under optimum conditions was lower than 3.0% (n = 5). The method was applied to the recovery of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from the certified reference material (GBW 08301, river sediment) and to the simultaneous determination of these cations in different water and biological samples with satisfactory results and yielding 100-folds enrichment factor.     

Multimodal Use of New Coumarin‐Based Fluorescent Chemosensors: Towards Highly Selective Optical Sensors for Hg2+ Probing

Despite several types of fluorescent sensing molecules have been proposed and examined to signal Hg²⁺ ion binding, the development of fluorescence‐based devices for in‐field Hg²⁺ detection and screening in environmental and industrial samples is still a challenging task. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of three new coumarin‐based fluorescent chemosensors featuring mixed thia/aza macrocyclic framework as receptors units, that is, ligands L1 – L3 . These probes revealed an OFF–ON selective response to the presence of Hg²⁺ ions in MeCN/H₂O 4:1 (v/v), which allowed imaging of this metal ion in Cos‐7 cells in vitro. Once included in silica core–polyethylene glycol (PEG) shell nanoparticles or supported on polyvinyl chloride (PVC)‐based polymeric membranes, ligands L1 – L3 can also selectively sense Hg²⁺ ions in pure water. In particular we have developed an optical sensing array tacking advantage of the fluorescent properties of ligand L3 and based on the computer screen photo assisted technique (CSPT). In the device ligand L3 is dispersed into PVC membranes and it quantitatively responds to Hg²⁺ ions in natural water samples.