Construction of rhodamine-based fluorescent sensor for fast, on-site quantitative detection of hazardous salicylic acid in practical sample analysis

• Published in: Food Chemistry: X Vol. 24; p. 101992
• Main Authors: Liu, Shi-Tao, Zhang, Li-Long, Tan, Shuai, Wang, Kai-Jie, Tang, A-Ling, Niu, Wei, Huang, Hou-Yun, Ge, Mei-Hong, Yang, Lin-Lin, Zhou, Xiang, Liu, Li-Wei, Yang, Song
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 30.12.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Environmental analysis; Fluorescent probe; Real food samples; Salicylic acid; Smartphone-assisted detection; LOD; Salicylic acid; MeSA; 2-MeBA; 2,4-D; HOMO; LUMO; Smartphone-assisted detection; 4-OHBA; RGB; SA; ASA; 6-BA; FQY; 2-NH2BA; DFT; min; 3-OHBA; Real food samples; 2-MeOBA; Fluorescent probe; Environmental analysis; BA
• ISSN: 2590-1575; 2590-1575
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101992

Salicylic acid (SA) is widely used in food storage, preservatives, additives, healthcare, and the pharmaceutical industry. However, various poisoning symptoms are frequently reported upon ingestion of a large amount of SA. Therefore, discovering new tools for sensing SA with fast, simple, and portable performance is imperative. Herein, five rhodamine-based fluorescent sensors were constructed, and investigated their SA detection profiles. Probe 1 was excellent selective with a rapid response, highly sensitive (LOD = 2.5 μM), good interference resistance, and unaided eye recognition. The spray experiment and paper-based test strips indicating that probe 1 enables to the on-site and quantitatively detect SA on actual food surfaces by using a smartphone identifying the RGB values. The sensing performance was validated in soil samples, water, and various agricultural food samples. Overall, the constructed SA sensor can function as a promising, convenient, and affordable tool for point-of-care detection of SA in diversiform environmental samples. [Display omitted] •The constructed fluorescent probes can rapidly and selectively respond to salicylic acid.•The “off-on” behavior of the probe occurs by hydrogen bond interaction.•A-rapid visual, quantitative detection is established by portable smartphone.•This sensor successfully detects salicylic acid in various real food samples.