Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles on Electrospun Polymer Nanofiber Film for SERS Applications

Abstract

We report a novel approach for fabricating active surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for sensitive detection. This approach is based on the assembling of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber film. The hydrophobic surface of PCL nanofiber film was pretreated using UV-inducing graft polymerization with acrylic acid. Afterwards this PCL nanofiber film was incubated with the AuNP solution to promote the assembly of AuNPs onto the PCL nanofibers and the formation of SERS active substrate. 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) molecule was used as a test probe for SERS experiments, indicating that the substrate has high sensitivity to SERS response. Our method has great advantage in term of environment-friendly synthesis, large-scale, high stability and good reproducibility. This highly active SERS substrate can be employed to detect the drug molecule, 2-thiouracil.

A Novel Route for the Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles in Polycaprolactone Nanofibers

“…The first one consists in treating a polymer solution containing Au + with reduction agents, for instance, sodium citrate, sodium borohydride, or ascorbic acid, while the second consists in chemical reduction with polymers like PVP or DMF before electrospinning process [10][11][12][13][14]. Recently, PCL nanofiber films were hydrophilically modified and incubated in the AuNP solutions in order to assemble Electrospun Polymer Nanofiber film with excellent SERS activity [15].…”

Tunable Enhancement of a Graphene/Polyaniline/Poly(ethylene oxide) Composite Electrospun Nanofiber Gas Sensor

“…Compared to typical film sensors, electrospun nanofiber sensors provide high specific surface area for greater analyte interaction, two-dimensional diffusion, and efficient electron transport for quick response and fast recovery [6]. Nanofibers are readily doped with functional materials, yielding sensors compatible with many detection methods, including: colorimetric, fluorescent, electrochemical, Raman, and chemiresistor techniques [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”