Fiber optic profenofos sensor based on surface plasmon resonance technique and molecular imprinting

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2016-05, Vol.79, p.150-157
• Main Authors: Shrivastav, Anand M., Usha, Sruthi P., Gupta, Banshi D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensors; Detection; Fiber Optic Technology - methods; Molecular Imprinting; Optical fiber; Optical fibers; Organothiophosphates - chemistry; Organothiophosphates - isolation & purification; Pesticides; Plasmons; Polymers - chemistry; Profenofos; Selectivity; Sensor; Sensors; Surface plasmon resonance; Surface Plasmon Resonance - methods; Three dimensional
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.11.095

A successful approach for the fabrication and characterization of an optical fiber sensor for the detection of profenofos based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular imprinting is introduced. Molecular imprinting technology is used for the creation of three dimensional binding sites having complementary shape and size of the specific template molecule over a polymer for the recognition of the same. Binding of template molecule with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer results in the change in the dielectric nature of the sensing surface (polymer) and is identified by SPR technique. Spectral interrogation method is used for the characterization of the sensing probe. The operating profenofos concentration range of the sensor is from 10−4 to 10−1µg/L. A red shift of 18.7nm in resonance wavelength is recorded for this profenofos concentration range. The maximum sensitivity of the sensor is 12.7nm/log (µg/L) at 10−4µg/L profenofos concentration. Limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor is found to be 2.5×10−6µg/L. Selectivity measurements predict the probe highly selective for the profenofos molecule. Besides high sensitivity due to SPR technique and selectivity due to molecular imprinting, proposed sensor has numerous other advantages like immunity to electromagnetic interference, fast response, low cost and capability of online monitoring and remote sensing of analyte due to the fabrication of the probe on optical fiber. •A novel approach for the detection of profenofos using surface plasmon resonance and molecular imprinting techniques along with optical fiber technology is reported.•The operating profenofos concentration range of the sensor is from 10−4µg/l to 10−1µg/l while its maximum sensitivity is 12.7 nm/log (µg/l) at 10−4 µg/l profenofos concentration.•Limit of detection of the sensor is found to be 2.5×10−6µg/l which is lowest of the values reported in the literature.•Selectivity measurements predict the probe highly selective for the profenofos molecule.•Besides high sensitivity and selectivity, the proposed sensor has numerous other advantages like immunity to electromagnetic interference, fast response, low cost and capability of online monitoring and remote sensing of analyte due to the fabrication of the probe on optical fiber.