Nanosensor will detect pesticides on fruits. Free Technical Library News

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Nanosensor detects pesticides on fruits

10.06.2022

Swedish scientists have developed a tiny sensor that can detect pesticides on fruit in just a few minutes. The technique uses flame-sprayed nanoparticles made of silver to amplify the signal of chemicals.

The new nanosensors use surface-enhanced Raman scattering, or SERS, a powerful detection technique that can magnify the diagnostic signals of biomolecules on metal surfaces by more than a million times. This technology has been used in several areas of research, including chemical and environmental analysis, and for the discovery of biomarkers for various diseases. However, high manufacturing costs and limited lot-to-lot reproducibility have so far prevented wide application in food safety diagnostics.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute created the SERS nanosensor using flame spraying - a well-established and cost-effective metal plating technique - to deliver small droplets of silver nanoparticles to a glass surface. Flame sputtering can be used to rapidly produce uniform SERS films over large areas.

The researchers then fine-tuned the distance between individual silver nanoparticles to increase their sensitivity. Testing whether they could detect substances, the scientists applied a thin layer of indicator dye over the sensors and used a spectrometer to detect molecular fingerprints. According to the researchers, the sensors reliably and uniformly detected molecular signals, and their performance remained unchanged when tested again after 2,5 months. That is, these nanosensors will be able to serve for a long time.

In testing the sensor, the researchers were able to detect low concentrations of parathion-ethyl, a toxic agricultural insecticide that is banned or restricted in most countries. A small amount of parathion-ethyl was placed on an apple. Later, the residue was collected with a cotton swab and dipped in a solution to dissolve the pesticide molecules. This solution was dripped onto the sensor, which confirmed that the solution does indeed contain pesticides.

Going forward, the researchers plan to explore whether the new nanosensors can be applied in other areas. For example, to detect biomarkers for specific diseases at the point of care in resource-limited settings.

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