Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substrates

Paper and board represent 10%–39% of the total municipal solid waste generated. In order to address the European Commission (EC) recycling targets, this study aimed to develop flexible Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) recycled-paper-based substrates tested by using a new eco-friendly and non...

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Main Authors: Alessia Tropea, Donatella Spadaro, Dario Giuffrida, Sebastiano Trusso, Daniele Giuffrida, Tania Maria Grazia Salerno, Julio Montanez, Lourdes Morales-Oyervides, Luigi Mondello, Rosina Celeste Ponterio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Chemistry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1571986/full
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author Alessia Tropea
Donatella Spadaro
Dario Giuffrida
Sebastiano Trusso
Daniele Giuffrida
Tania Maria Grazia Salerno
Julio Montanez
Lourdes Morales-Oyervides
Luigi Mondello
Luigi Mondello
Rosina Celeste Ponterio
author_facet Alessia Tropea
Donatella Spadaro
Dario Giuffrida
Sebastiano Trusso
Daniele Giuffrida
Tania Maria Grazia Salerno
Julio Montanez
Lourdes Morales-Oyervides
Luigi Mondello
Luigi Mondello
Rosina Celeste Ponterio
author_sort Alessia Tropea
collection DOAJ
description Paper and board represent 10%–39% of the total municipal solid waste generated. In order to address the European Commission (EC) recycling targets, this study aimed to develop flexible Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) recycled-paper-based substrates tested by using a new eco-friendly and nontoxic molecule probe. This study reports for the first time the implementation of the microbial dye violacein, obtained by Janthinobacterium lividum batch cultivation, as SERS probe, as a suitable substitutive to the most employed toxic chemical dye Rhodamine 6G (R6G). The interaction of the proposed natural probe with the metal surface after the adsorption and the presence of local electromagnetic fields were evaluated by computational approach. The SERS devices developed were decorated by applying a single-step pulsed laser deposition (PLD) decoration method and characterized using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The platform showed a remarkable sensitivity, achieving a detection limit of 10–7 M for violacein, allowing to point out the strong potential of this natural microbial dye as a sustainable probe molecule for low-concentration analytes detection on SERS-active substrates, making them suitable for several application fields, such as environmental monitoring, food safety, cultural heritage analysis and diagnostics. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing eco-friendly materials in the development of chemical sensors as a sustainable innovation in environmental science by minimizing the ecological impact.
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spelling doaj-art-8f7593c80b71409ba79f071016aaae992025-08-20T03:13:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Chemistry2296-26462025-05-011310.3389/fchem.2025.15719861571986Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substratesAlessia Tropea0Donatella Spadaro1Dario Giuffrida2Sebastiano Trusso3Daniele Giuffrida4Tania Maria Grazia Salerno5Julio Montanez6Lourdes Morales-Oyervides7Luigi Mondello8Luigi Mondello9Rosina Celeste Ponterio10Messina Institute of Technology c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyInstitute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, Messina, ItalyInstitute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, Messina, ItalyInstitute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyMessina Institute of Technology c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyFacultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Saltillo, Coahuila, MexicoFacultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Saltillo, Coahuila, MexicoMessina Institute of Technology c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyChromaleont s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyInstitute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, Messina, ItalyPaper and board represent 10%–39% of the total municipal solid waste generated. In order to address the European Commission (EC) recycling targets, this study aimed to develop flexible Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) recycled-paper-based substrates tested by using a new eco-friendly and nontoxic molecule probe. This study reports for the first time the implementation of the microbial dye violacein, obtained by Janthinobacterium lividum batch cultivation, as SERS probe, as a suitable substitutive to the most employed toxic chemical dye Rhodamine 6G (R6G). The interaction of the proposed natural probe with the metal surface after the adsorption and the presence of local electromagnetic fields were evaluated by computational approach. The SERS devices developed were decorated by applying a single-step pulsed laser deposition (PLD) decoration method and characterized using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The platform showed a remarkable sensitivity, achieving a detection limit of 10–7 M for violacein, allowing to point out the strong potential of this natural microbial dye as a sustainable probe molecule for low-concentration analytes detection on SERS-active substrates, making them suitable for several application fields, such as environmental monitoring, food safety, cultural heritage analysis and diagnostics. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing eco-friendly materials in the development of chemical sensors as a sustainable innovation in environmental science by minimizing the ecological impact.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1571986/fullviolaceinrecycled-papermunicipal solid wasteSERS sensorSERS probecircular bioeconomy
spellingShingle Alessia Tropea
Donatella Spadaro
Dario Giuffrida
Sebastiano Trusso
Daniele Giuffrida
Tania Maria Grazia Salerno
Julio Montanez
Lourdes Morales-Oyervides
Luigi Mondello
Luigi Mondello
Rosina Celeste Ponterio
Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substrates
Frontiers in Chemistry
violacein
recycled-paper
municipal solid waste
SERS sensor
SERS probe
circular bioeconomy
title Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substrates
title_full Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substrates
title_fullStr Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substrates
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substrates
title_short Exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper-based SERS substrates
title_sort exploring the application of the microbial pigment violacein as a sustainable probe molecule for recycled paper based sers substrates
topic violacein
recycled-paper
municipal solid waste
SERS sensor
SERS probe
circular bioeconomy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1571986/full
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