A novel colorimetric paper sensor based on the layer-by-layer assembled multilayers of surfactants for the sensitive and selective determination of total antioxidant capacity

Herein, a new colorimetric paper sensor based on the layer-by-layer assembled multilayers of a cationic surfactant, tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr), and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), modified on filter paper was developed for the determination of total antioxidant capacity (TAC). In this study, gallic acid (GA) was used as the antioxidant standard. The fabricated (TBABr/SDS)(3)/PAD was loaded with Fe(3+) ions to obtain Fe(3+)/(TBABr/SDS)(3)/PAD, exhibiting high selectivity for the detection of GA when compared with the case of other metal ions. The interaction between GA and the Fe(3+)/(TBABr/SDS)(3)/PAD sensor occurred rapidly, and the colorimetric paper sensor changed from yellow to purple immediately. The quantitative detection of GA was enabled by taking an image using an ordinary smartphone and applying the ImageJ software based on the change in color. Under optimum conditions, a linear response was obtained between the change in the color of the sensor and the TAC value expressed in terms of gallic acid equivalents. The linear range was from 0.50 μM to 6.50 mM with the detection limit of 0.35 μM. The colorimetric paper sensor was applied to detect the TAC in three kinds of green tea and vegetable samples, which provided the good recoveries of 86.0–109.9%. The proposed sensor is simple, cheap, equipment-free, rapid and environmentally friendly. In addition, the colorimetric sensor Fe(3+)/(TBABr/SDS)(3)/PAD has potential applicability for TAC detection in real food samples.