Ratiometric Quantification of Cyanide in Water with Gold Nanoparticles Via Resonance Rayleigh Scattering (CAT#: STEM-ST-0047-YJL)

Introduction

Cyanide is one of the fastest and most powerful poisons due to its high tendency to attach to cytochrome c oxidase, inhibiting its function in the electron transport chain and leading to cytotoxic hypoxia, cellular asphyxiation and lactate acidosis that finally result in death within minutes without adequate treatment. Despite its well-known toxicity, the use of CN− is widely spread in many industries such as in the synthesis of fibers like nylon, and many other metal and organic chemical factories.
The unique chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials (e.g. optical, electrochemical, catalytic) have been exploited in the design and application of chemical sensors for proteins, DNA, metallic ions and small molecules. Nanomaterial-based chemical sensors offer distinct advantages including high sensitivity and selectivity, rapid detection times and low cost. AuNPs are among the most frequently employed nanomaterials for this purpose because they can be prepared by simple and reproducible synthesis methods and can be easily functionalized with a variety of molecules.