Detection of Pesticides and Metabolites Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS): Acephate

A protocol created for acephate detection on particulates and vapors surrounding farmworkers as well as in urine samples is reported. Acephate is detected to the low parts-per-billion (ppb) range using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Optimal SERS sensor metal choice and post-production treatments to improve sensor stability in aqueous solutions containing acephate are presented. Acephate is detected in the vapor phase and can be differentiated from urine components and structurally similar pesticides, including the acephate metabolite-degradation product methamidophos. Protocol evaluation and preliminary field tests from North Carolina farms are discussed.

Solution-based direct readout surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) detection of ultra-low levels of thiram with dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles

We report the use of two different sizes of dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles as colloidal substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based detection of ultra-low levels of thiram, a dithiocarbamate fungicide. We demonstrate the ability to use a solution based, direct readout SERS method as a quantitative tool for the detection of ultra-low levels of thiram. The two different sizes of dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles are synthesized by using the seed-mediated growth method and characterized by using UV-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The smaller dogbone shaped nanoparticles have an average size of 43 ± 13 nm. The larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles have an average size of 65 ± 15 nm. The nanoparticle concentration is 1.25 × 10(11) nanoparticles per mL for the smaller dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles and is 1.13 × 10(11) nanoparticles per mL for the larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles. Different concentrations of thiram are allowed to bind to the two different sizes of dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles and the SERS spectra are obtained. From the calibration curve, the limit of detection for thiram is 43.9 ± 6.2 nM when the smaller dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles are used as colloidal SERS substrates In the case of the larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles, the limit of detection for thiram is 11.8 ± 3.2 nM. The lower limit of detection obtained by using the larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles as colloidal substrates is due to the lightning rod effect, higher contributions from the electromagnetic enhancement effect, and larger number of surface sites for thiram to bind.

Studies on surface plasmon resonance and photoluminescence of silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles of different sizes were prepared by citrate reduction and characterized by UV-vis absorbance spectra, TEM images and photoluminescence spectra. The morphology of the colloids obtained consists of a mixture of nanorods and spheres. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and photoemission properties of Ag nanoparticles are found to be sensitive to citrate concentration. A blue shift in SPR and an enhancement in photoluminescence intensity are observed with increase in citrate concentration. Effect of addition of KCl and variation of pH in photoluminescence was also studied.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering on colloidal nanostructures

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering combines extremely high sensitivity, due to enhanced Raman cross-sections comparable or even better than fluorescence, with the observation of vibrational spectra of adsorbed species, providing one of the most incisive analytical methods for chemical and biochemical detection and analysis. SERS spectra are observed from a molecule-nanostructure enhancing system. This symbiosis molecule-nanostructure is a fertile ground for theoretical developments and a realm of applications from single molecule detection to biomedical diagnostic and techniques for nanostructure characterization.