Surfactant and alcohol induced disaggregation of perylene probes and a novel sensing strategy for distinguishing the brand and authenticity of makeup removers

Abstract

The ingredients of makeup removers are very complex, and it is difficult to distinguish the brand and authenticity of makeup removers simply by employing traditional ingredient analysis. In this work, based on the controlled self-assembly of perylene probes, a novel fluorescence sensing strategy was successfully developed to distinguish the brand and authenticity of makeup removers. Four charged perylene derivatives were synthesized and utilized as the sensing elements. It was found that the perylene probes were soluble and existed in equilibrium between their aggregated and free monomeric forms in neutral aqueous solution. The disaggregation of the probes occurred in the presence of surfactants or alcohols. Moreover, various degrees of disaggregation and the corresponding turn-on fluorescence were observed in the presence of different kinds of surfactants and alcohols. A novel four-channel sensor array based on the probes was then established, and successfully utilized for the discrimination of alcohols and surfactants. In addition, based on the fact that surfactants and alcohols are the main components of makeup removers, the sensor array was also successfully employed to discriminate makeup remover waters. Using our devised sensor array, makeup removers could be easily distinguished from the daily used liquid goods, and the nine brands of commercial makeup removers could also be easily differentiated from each other. The authenticity of makeup removers could also be identified with high accuracy.