Functionalization of silver nanoparticles with mPEGylated luteolin for selective visual detection of Hg(2+) in water sample

A novel colorimetric sensor based on mPEGylated luteolin-functionalized silver nanoparticles (mPEGylated luteolin-AgNPs) in an aqueous solution was prepared. The mPEGylated luteolin-AgNP solution was utilized to detect Hg(2+) with high sensitivity and selectivity in the presence of other metal cations including Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+), Mn(2+), Ba(2+), Pb(2+), Sr(2+), Ca(2+), Cd(2+), Al(3+) and Cu(2+). The solution could be induced to aggregate, and a color change from yellow-brown to colorless was observed in the presence of Hg(2+). Meanwhile, the sensor was successfully used to detect Hg(2+) in tap water with satisfactory recovery ranges using the standard addition method.