Fluorometric detection of bisphenol A using β-cyclodextrin-functionalized ZnO QDs

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Bisphenol A (BPA) exhibits estrogenic properties, posing risks to health and ecosystems.
• A need exists for simple, selective, and cost-effective sensors for environmental BPA detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) functionalized zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dots (QDs).
• To develop a selective fluorescence-based sensor for bisphenol A (BPA) detection.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of β-cyclodextrin-functionalized ZnO QDs.
• Utilizing fluorescence quenching of ZnO QDs by BPA for detection.
• Establishing a linear correlation between fluorescence quenching and BPA concentration.

Main Results:

• The functionalized ZnO QDs demonstrated selective detection of BPA.
• A linear relationship (R² = 0.9891) was observed between relative fluorescence quenching and BPA concentration (2–10 μM).
• A low detection limit of 0.19 μM for BPA was achieved, below toxic levels for aquatic life.

Conclusions:

• β-CD-functionalized ZnO QDs provide a sensitive and selective platform for BPA detection.
• The fluorescence quenching mechanism, likely involving electron transfer, is suitable for environmental monitoring.
• This sensor offers a cost-effective solution for assessing BPA contamination in environmental systems.