Rapid detection and classification of pharmaceutical molecules using Ag/ZIF-8/TNTs composite substrate

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Discarded pharmaceuticals in ecosystems present a significant global health risk.
• Effective strategies for detecting and degrading these pollutants are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective composite substrate for detecting and degrading pharmaceutical pollutants.
• To enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of pollutant detection using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and ZIF-8 on titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (TNTs) to create Ag/ZIF-8/TNTs composite substrates.
• Utilized SERS analysis for sensitive detection of methylene blue (MB) and other pharmaceuticals.
• Evaluated the photocatalytic degradation efficiency and reusability of the composite substrates.

Main Results:

• The Ag/ZIF-8/TNTs substrates achieved highly sensitive detection of MB at 1 × 10^-13 M with a SERS enhancement factor of 1.4 × 10⁷.
• The substrates demonstrated 100% accuracy in detecting and classifying Ibuprofen, Vancomycin, and Doxorubicin via their SERS signatures.
• The composite materials exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation capabilities and maintained activity over five reuse cycles.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ag/ZIF-8/TNTs composite substrates are dual-functional, offering efficient detection and degradation of wastewater pollutants.
• This cost-effective material provides a promising solution for environmental monitoring and remediation of pharmaceutical contaminants.