title: Colorimetric sensor array based on gold nanoparticles and amino acids for identification of toxic metal ions in water.
abstract: A facile colorimetric sensor array for detection of multiple toxic heavy metal ions (Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Fe(3+), Pb(2+), Al(3+), Cu(2+), and Cr(3+)) in water is demonstrated using 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and five amino acids (lysine, cysteine, histidine, tyrosine, and arginine). The presence of amino acids (which have functional groups that can form complexes with metal ions and MUA) regulates the aggregation of MUA-capped particles; it can either enhance or diminish the particle aggregation. The combinatorial colorimetric response of all channels of the sensor array (i.e., color change in each of AuNP and amino acid couples) enables naked-eye discrimination of all of the metal ions tested in this study with excellent selectivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science , and ‡Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine Division, Institute of Science, Hacettepe University , Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulsu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sener
authors.forename: Lokman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denizli
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006046:Gold
keywords: colorimetric assays; environmental monitoring; gold nanoparticles; sensor array; toxic metal ions