Highly sensitive fluorescent single-chain polymeric nanoparticles as chemosensors for selective Fe3+detection

Abstract

This work describes a straightforward technique for preparing single-chain polymeric nanoparticles by photodimerization of pendant anthracene moieties on the side chain of styrenic and acrylic based linear polymers. The resulting single-chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCNPs) are then converted into pyrene functional nanoparticles through the simple Diels-Alder post-functionalization method. Polymeric nanoparticles containing maleimide and pyrene entities were deployed as a chemosensor capable of selectively detecting Fe3+ ions. Adding Fe3+ ions into achieved nanoparticle medium, color change is readily visible with unaided eye. The chemosensor's ability to sense Fe3+ ions remained unaltered by the presence of other metal ions, such as Al3+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Cr3+, K+, Mg2+, Na+, NH4+, Ni2+, and Sn2+. These results suggest that functional SCNP is a potential probe of Fe3+ ions and it will be beneficial for future SCNP sensor design. They exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of Fe3+ in the micromolar concentration range, making it a promising tool for Fe3+ detection even in the presence of other common interfering metal ions.