A Novel Fluorescent and Colorimetric Method for the Determination of Formaldehyde Based on Albumin Nanoparticles-Polyethyleneimine-Ag + Ion Nanohybrids

Abstract

Abstract Formaldehyde is a common aldehydes in the environment. As a carcinogenic substances, high dose exposure may lead to poisoning and death. Long-term exposure to low doses of formaldehyde can also do great harm to human skin, respiratory organs and human immune system. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method to detect formaldehyde content in real time. In this paper, bovine serum protein was used as the main raw material to prepare fluorescence protein nanoparticles (BSA NPs). The prepared BSA NPs were combined with polyethylenimide (PEI) and silver ion (Ag+) for further determination of formaldehyde content at room temperature. The particle size, potential, fluorescence and absorbance properties of BSA NPs, BSA NPs combined with Ag+ ions (BSA NPs-Ag), and BSA NPs combined with PEI and Ag+ ions complex (BSA NPs-PEI-Ag) were studied and characterized. In this paper, based on the BSA NPs-PEI-Ag system, a new fluorescent and colorimetric method for the determination of formaldehyde was established in the range of 0-1.92 mg·mL− 1. Moreover, it was found that semi-quantitative visual detection of formaldehyde content could also be realized based on the color change of the solution.