Development of biocompatible dualistic probe based on methionine capped MoS2 QDs for selective sensing and annihilation of persistent organic pollutants

Upscaling in the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries has resulted in intractable intrusion of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the aquatic domain, raising alarming concerns about human and environment safety. With this concern, novel L-methionine capped molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MET-MoS2 QDs) have stood out as an efficient fluorescence sensor cum photocatalyst for detection and annihilation of persistent organic pollutants. In this view, in-situ surface functionalization of MoS2 QDs with biocompatible MET amino acid was accomplished using facile hydrothermal route and their successful fabrication was corroborated by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, EDX, HRTEM, fluorescence and UV–Vis spectroscopy studies. The intrinsic fluorescence response of MET-MoS2 QDs were benefitted for the selective detection of two types of POPs; organochlorine pesticide (dichloroaniline, DCNA) and an anticancer drug (doxorubicin, DOX), with limit of detection of as low as 1.01 µM and 0.09 µM, respectively. Additionally, light harvesting property of MET-MoS2 QDs suggested their efficacy as a photocatalyst for the degradation of DOX, with degradation efficiency of 93 % under UV light irradiation. The present study employs the use of biocompatible and non-toxic MET-MoS2 QDs for the first-time for fluorescence sensing and mineralization of POPs.