Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite Green

Malachite green (MG) is a highly toxic dye commonly used in industries and aquaculture, leading to significant environmental contamination and health hazards. Therefore, sensitive and selective detection of MG in real samples is urgently needed. This study presents the development of a molecularly i...

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Main Authors: Hao Zhang, Dani Sun, Yuhao Wen, Mengyuan Wang, Jingying Huang, Ziru Lian, Jinhua Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/329
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author Hao Zhang
Dani Sun
Yuhao Wen
Mengyuan Wang
Jingying Huang
Ziru Lian
Jinhua Li
author_facet Hao Zhang
Dani Sun
Yuhao Wen
Mengyuan Wang
Jingying Huang
Ziru Lian
Jinhua Li
author_sort Hao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Malachite green (MG) is a highly toxic dye commonly used in industries and aquaculture, leading to significant environmental contamination and health hazards. Therefore, sensitive and selective detection of MG in real samples is urgently needed. This study presents the development of a molecularly imprinted surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (MI-SERS) plasmonic sensor for the rapid and sensitive detection of MG. The sensor consists of a gold nanostar (Au NS) layer as the SERS substrate and an imprinted polydopamine layer containing specific recognition sites for MG. Taking full advantage of the plasmonic effect of SERS and selective recognition capability of imprinted materials, under optimized conditions, the sensor demonstrated high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 3.5 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mg/L, excellent selectivity against interference from other organic dyes, and robust performance with recoveries of 90.2–114.2% in real seawater samples. The MI-SERS sensor also exhibited good reproducibility, stability, and reusability. These findings suggest that the MI-SERS sensor is a promising tool for real-time monitoring of MG contamination in complicated samples.
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spelling doaj-art-2a2802ce0a804440b1fd4af9a7189c2d2025-08-20T01:56:17ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-05-0115532910.3390/bios15050329Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite GreenHao Zhang0Dani Sun1Yuhao Wen2Mengyuan Wang3Jingying Huang4Ziru Lian5Jinhua Li6Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaCoastal Zone Ecological Environment Monitoring Technology and Equipment Shandong Engineering Research Center, Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, ChinaCoastal Zone Ecological Environment Monitoring Technology and Equipment Shandong Engineering Research Center, Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, ChinaCoastal Zone Ecological Environment Monitoring Technology and Equipment Shandong Engineering Research Center, Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, ChinaCoastal Zone Ecological Environment Monitoring Technology and Equipment Shandong Engineering Research Center, Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, ChinaMarine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaCoastal Zone Ecological Environment Monitoring Technology and Equipment Shandong Engineering Research Center, Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, ChinaMalachite green (MG) is a highly toxic dye commonly used in industries and aquaculture, leading to significant environmental contamination and health hazards. Therefore, sensitive and selective detection of MG in real samples is urgently needed. This study presents the development of a molecularly imprinted surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (MI-SERS) plasmonic sensor for the rapid and sensitive detection of MG. The sensor consists of a gold nanostar (Au NS) layer as the SERS substrate and an imprinted polydopamine layer containing specific recognition sites for MG. Taking full advantage of the plasmonic effect of SERS and selective recognition capability of imprinted materials, under optimized conditions, the sensor demonstrated high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 3.5 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mg/L, excellent selectivity against interference from other organic dyes, and robust performance with recoveries of 90.2–114.2% in real seawater samples. The MI-SERS sensor also exhibited good reproducibility, stability, and reusability. These findings suggest that the MI-SERS sensor is a promising tool for real-time monitoring of MG contamination in complicated samples.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/329malachite greenmolecular imprintingsurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopyplasmonic sensorseawater
spellingShingle Hao Zhang
Dani Sun
Yuhao Wen
Mengyuan Wang
Jingying Huang
Ziru Lian
Jinhua Li
Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite Green
Biosensors
malachite green
molecular imprinting
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
plasmonic sensor
seawater
title Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite Green
title_full Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite Green
title_fullStr Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite Green
title_full_unstemmed Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite Green
title_short Molecularly Imprinted SERS Plasmonic Sensor for the Detection of Malachite Green
title_sort molecularly imprinted sers plasmonic sensor for the detection of malachite green
topic malachite green
molecular imprinting
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
plasmonic sensor
seawater
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/329
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AT mengyuanwang molecularlyimprintedsersplasmonicsensorforthedetectionofmalachitegreen
AT jingyinghuang molecularlyimprintedsersplasmonicsensorforthedetectionofmalachitegreen
AT zirulian molecularlyimprintedsersplasmonicsensorforthedetectionofmalachitegreen
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