One-pot preparation of supramolecularly functionalized silver nanoparticles for surface plasmon resonance based dual-modal sensing of phytotoxic polychlorinated biphenyl

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as a member of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have posed a risk to humans and the environment until today. The monitoring of phytotoxic PCB which is toxic to plants, is especially important for ecological early warning and pollution management. In this work, β-cyclodextrin modified silver nanoparticles are prepared in a one-pot method, integrating the synthesis and surface modification in one step. The nanoparticles can supramolecularly immobilize 2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 28) on their surface and construct a surface plasmon resonance-based nanosensor. Surface plasmon-resonance light scattering and surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensing of PCB 28 are realized using the nanosensor. The dual-modal sensing shows excellent performance for the potential practical monitoring of phytotoxic POPs in the plant and its growing environment.