Facile and rapid colorimetric detection of carbaryl using nitrite-conjugated gold nanoparticles to ensure environmental and consumer safety

From the use of pesticides in agriculture, carbaryl, the main component of pesticides, has permeated the ecosystem, causing various side effects such as weakness and neurodegenerative diseases in organisms. For this reason, a convenient sensor that can be used for facile carbaryl detection is necessary. Herein, we design a facile, simple, and rapid synthesis method using nitrite receptor-conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@NO₂) as a probe for colorimetric detection. This sensor provided a limit of 2 μM of carbaryl detection when observed with the naked eye, which is lower than those obtained with conventional sensors. Selective tests demonstrated that the nitrite receptor specifically interacted with carbaryl compared with other chemical compounds. Importantly, by introducing the stabilizing agent polyvinylpyrrolidone on the surface of the AuNPs@NO₂, selective detection of carbaryl was also feasible in various real-world soil, crop, water, and cosmetic product samples. Recovery rates within the range of 83.33 ± 3.86–107.0 ± 3.24 % showed the operability of this sensor for diverse real samples. Using an easily synthesized colorimetric sensor, this study provides valuable insights into the simple and rapid detection of carbaryl in various areas, including ecosystems and human daily life.