Optimization and multivariate analysis of Schiff Base functionalized gold nanoparticle sensor for efficient...

The growing threats to human health and the environment posed by the use of bifenthrin in agriculture have prompted the need for effective detection techniques. We overcome this difficulty in this work by synthesizing (E)-2-((13S)-3-hydroxy-13-methyl-7,8,9,11,12,13,15,16-octahydro-6H-cyclopenta [a] phenanthren-17(14H) ylidene) thiosemicarbazide (SBTSC), which is obtained from estrone. Following the Turkevich approach, this ligand was used to functionalize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and create a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensor for the detection of bifenthrin. In response to bifenthrin, the SBTSC-AuNPs probe exhibited a distinct colorimetric shift from ruby red to purple, with a linear detection range of 20-70 μM. The SBTSC-AuNP sensor demonstrated high sensitivity, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 5.7 μM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.7 μM. A multivariate analysis was conducted to ensure stability and optimal performance for optimizing the sensing perimeter conditions. The foremost focus of this study was the influence of pH, temperature, and ligand concentration. High recovery rates were obtained when the probe was successfully used for the quantitative detection of bifenthrin in real-world fruit and vegetable samples. This study highlights the SBTSC-AuNPs probe as a rapid, cost-effective, and reliable LSPR and colorimetric sensor for monitoring bifenthrin, with considerable promise for applications in food safety and environmental surveys.