Polydiacetylene (PDA) coated paper-based fluorescence sensor for the detection and quantification of bisphenol

Abstract

Bisphenol (BPA) is a common environmental contaminant found in water, food, packaging, and human biological samples, raising significant health concerns due to its endocrine-disrupting properties, particularly its interference with estrogen receptors. We have developed a novel, portable paper-based sensor that utilizes a polydiacetylene (PDA) dye coated on filter paper. This sensor exhibits a distinct, concentration-dependent color change from blue to red when exposed to BPA. The colorimetric and fluorescence responses are driven by hydrogen bonding interactions between BPA's phenolic hydroxyl (OH) groups and the carbonyl groups of PDA's carboxylic acid. The sensor's performance was characterized using techniques such as FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. Our method allows for rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive detection and quantification of BPA by correlating digital image RGB values or fluorescence intensity with BPA concentration. We achieved a highly linear calibration with an R² value of 0.99, enabling dual-mode detection. This sensor offers a promising tool for on-site BPA monitoring in both environmental and medical contexts, overcoming the limitations of traditional assays and enhancing public health protection against this hazardous chemical.