Recent Progress in Nanoparticles Based Sensors for the Detection of Mercury (II) Ions in Environmental and Biological Samples

Abstract

To maintain a green and sustainable environment for human beings, rapid detection of potentially toxic heavy metals like mercury (Hg(II)) has attracted great attention. Recently, sensors have been designed which can selectively detect Hg(II) over other common available cations and give a naked eye or fluorometric response. In the last two decades, the trend is shifting from bulky organic chemosensors toward nanoparticles due to their rapid response, low cost, eco-friendly and easy synthesis. In this review, promising nanoparticles-based sensors for Hg(II) detection are discussed. The nano-sensors are functionalized with nucleotide or other suitable materials which coordinate with Hg(II) ions and give clear color or fluorescence change. The operational mechanisms are discussed focusing on its four basic types. The nanoparticles-based sensors are even able to detect Hg in three different oxidation states (Hg(II), Hg(I) and Hg(0)). Recently, the trend has been shifted from ordinary nanoparticles to magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously detect and remove Hg(II) ions from environmental samples. Furthermore, the nano-sensors for Hg(II) are compared with each other and with the reported organic chemosensors.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Environmental pollutants
• metal based nanosensors
• nanosensors for Hg(II) detection

Acknowledgments

The author (Zarif Gul) is thankful to HEC Pakistan for the award of scholarship under the IRSIP fellowship No. 1e8/HEC/HRD/2017/6933, in the laboratory of Dr. Magnus T Johnson, Centre for analysis and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Lund, Sweden.

Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.