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Synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets-layered imprinted polymer system as a nanointerface for detection of chloramphenicol

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Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials can be layered together to design hybrid materials. Their exceptional properties can be harnessed to fabricate advanced sensors. In the present study, a novel mass-sensitive sensor has been developed by preparing a hybrid of 2D graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets and molecularly imprinted polymer. 2D graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C3N4) were synthesized by a microwave-assisted method. Further, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was designed by free radical polymerization using chloramphenicol as the template analyte. A layered assembly of g-C3N4 and MIP was prepared to modify quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) devices to generate nanointerface. The g-C3N4 nanosheets possessed zeta potential of − 39 mV which indicated strong electrostatic interaction with gold electrodes of QCM, leading to stable adhesion of MIP layers. Morphological investigations by scanning electron microscopy revealed 2D lamellar structures of g-C3N4, with wrinkles and irregular folds. Atomic force microscopy showed the prepared sheet layers were ~ 30 nm thick. The resultant nanointerface was used as a mass-sensitive transducer to detect chloramphenicol. The decrease of the basic frequency of QCM devices upon inclusion of the target analyte generated the sensor signals. A linear relationship of frequency responses was obtained, yielding a detection limit down to 177 µM. Moreover, the prepared sensor gives 98–90% highly specific detection of chloramphenicol compared to its interferents and structural analogs (thiamphenicol and clindamycin). It suggested sucessful application of the prepared hybrid based on layering of 2D materials. The sensor presented here harbors the benefits of excellent sensitivity as well as selective binding. These attributes make 2D hybrid materials a favorable sensor platform for the detection of important environmental molecules.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Sadia Z. Bajwa is highly thankful to the financial assistance by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan via Grant No. NRPU-6116.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanobiotech Group, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, P.O. Box No.577, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Aysha Shaheen, Ayesha Taj, Farwah Jameel, Waheed S. Khan & Sadia Z. Bajwa

  2. Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Aysha Shaheen, Ayesha Taj & Farwah Jameel

  3. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China

    Muhammad Ali Tahir

  4. School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

    Adnan Mujahid

  5. Division of Science and Technology, Department of Physics, University of Education, Lahore, 54770, Pakistan

    Faheem K. Butt

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  1. Aysha Shaheen
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  2. Ayesha Taj
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Correspondence to Faheem K. Butt, Waheed S. Khan or Sadia Z. Bajwa.

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Shaheen, A., Taj, A., Jameel, F. et al. Synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets-layered imprinted polymer system as a nanointerface for detection of chloramphenicol. Appl Nanosci 12, 139–150 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-021-02220-9

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