Functional Paper-Based Platform for Rapid Capture and Detection of CeO₂ Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Growing need for systems to capture, sequester, and track nanoparticles (NPs) in environmental and health research.
• Existing methods lack efficient tools for evaluating NP concentration, distribution, and effects in diverse exposure scenarios.
• Importance of developing reliable detection and separation technologies for nanoparticles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the first ligand-graft multifunctional platform for the capture and detection of cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles.
• To demonstrate the efficacy of this platform for rapid NP assessment in industrial and environmental samples.
• To lay the groundwork for advanced NP separation and measurement devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of paper-based and microarray platforms functionalized with redox-active ligands (catechol or ascorbic acid).
• Utilized o-dihydroxy functionality for multivalent binding and charge transfer complex formation with CeO2 NPs.
• Characterized surface modification using infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and fabricated ligand-graft platforms capable of capturing cerium oxide nanoparticles.
• Demonstrated the platform's functionality for rapid assessment of NPs in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) slurries.
• Confirmed the ability to detect NPs in CMP wastewaters, showcasing practical application potential.

Conclusions:

• The developed ligand-graft platform represents a novel approach for NP capture and detection.
• This strategy enables efficient retention and separation of nanoparticles, applicable to environmental monitoring.
• The technology holds promise for the development of advanced measurement tools for NP detection across various settings.