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Ratiometric detection of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids using dual fluorescent nanoparticles and a miniaturised microfluidic platform

Author

Listed:
  • Yijuan Sun

    (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM))

  • Víctor Pérez-Padilla

    (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM))

  • Virginia Valderrey

    (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM))

  • Jérémy Bell

    (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM))

  • Kornelia Gawlitza

    (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM))

  • Knut Rurack

    (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM))

Abstract

The widespread contamination of soil and water with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has caused considerable societal and scientific concern. Legislative measures and an increased need for remediation require effective on-site analytical methods for PFAS management. Here we report on the development of a green-fluorescent guanidine-BODIPY indicator monomer incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Complexation of PFOA by the indicator, which is mediated by concerted protonation-induced ion pairing-assisted hydrogen bonding, significantly enhances fluorescence in polar organic solvents. The MIP forms as a thin layer on silica nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, which provides an orange emission signal as internal reference, resulting in low measurement uncertainties. Using a liquid-liquid extraction protocol, this assay enables the direct detection of PFOA in environmental water samples and achieves a detection limit of 0.11 µM. Integration into an opto-microfluidic system enables a compact and user-friendly system for detecting PFOA in less than 15 minutes.

Suggested Citation

  • Yijuan Sun & Víctor Pérez-Padilla & Virginia Valderrey & Jérémy Bell & Kornelia Gawlitza & Knut Rurack, 2025. "Ratiometric detection of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids using dual fluorescent nanoparticles and a miniaturised microfluidic platform," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-66872-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-66872-9
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