Size-specific imprinted polymer embedded carbon nanodots modified magnetic nanoparticle for specific recognition of...

Like the two sides of a coin, any new invention or discovery also possess their two faces. Similarly, while nanomaterials were identified as a boon in several fields like industrial, medicinal or agriculture; some of them have been also validated as a risk to the environment and living organisms. In this report, we addressed an efficient optical method for the detection of popularly used titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2) by a size-specific imprinted polymer embedded heteroatom-doped carbon nanodots (CNDs) decorated at the surface of the water-soluble magnetic nanoparticle. The CNDs were prepared by an economic and eco-friendly one-step hydrothermal method using a series of Brassicaceae family members (i.e. radish, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower). The as prepared CNDs shows very good production (12.8%) and quantum yields (40.7%). The size-specific imprinted polymer is biocompatible and biodegradable in nature and was able to detect the TiO2 nanoparticles with a high selectivity i.e. limit of detection (LOD)=6.88ngL(-1) (S/N=3) and remove the nanoparticle very efficiently. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied for the detection of TiO2 nanoparticles in wastewater, human sera, and cosmetic samples.