Amphiphilic porphyrin film on glass as a simple and selective solid-state chemosensor for aqueous Hg2

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2006-09, Vol.22 (3), p.399-404
• Main Authors: Dolci, Luisa S., Marzocchi, Ettore, Montalti, Marco, Prodi, Luca, Monti, Donato, Di Natale, Corrado, D’Amico, Arnaldo, Paolesse, Roberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biotechnology; Coated Materials, Biocompatible - chemistry; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glass - chemistry; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Luminescent Measurements - instrumentation; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Others; Porphyrinoids; Porphyrins - chemistry; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sensors; Various methods and equipments; Water - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2006.05.013

Deposition of amphiphilic porphyrin derivatives occurs spontaneously on silanised glass surfaces, in a controlled fashion. The resulting porphyrin films show appreciable fluorescence emission. This emission can be effectively quenched by immersion of the slides into a diluted solution of Hg2+ (μM concentration). The initial intensity can be restored by washings with a solution of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridilmethyl)ethylenediammine with no loss of efficiency. A remarkable selectivity is featured toward the detection of Hg2+ over Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ counterparts. This protocol can be extended to a flow-through apparatus. The presented results are of importance for the achievement of a solid-state chemosensor for mercuric ions, at micromolar concentration, in water.