Design of a photo-initiated PDMS-based flexible SERS-imprinted membrane for the selective detection of microcystin-LR

Abstract

In this study, an array structure SERS substrate was designed by using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the support membrane and loading Au@Ag@Au nanoparticles on its surface. By a three-phase self-assembly procedure, the Au@Ag@Au nanoparticles could be smoothly transferred onto the PDMS membrane and presented an array structure, which could significantly promote the SERS sensitivity. Furthermore, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were coated on the surface of the membrane to promote the selective detection property. In order to protect the chemical structure of the MC-LR molecules, Au@Ag@Au/PDMS molecularly imprinted membranes (AAAP-MIMs) were synthesized by photo-initiated polymerization. It was demonstrated from the results that the AAAP-MIMs exhibited high SERS sensitivity, stability, and uniformity. This investigation presents a novel analysis procedure applied to the selective detection of toxic microcystin.