Colorimetric Detection of Trace Arsenic(III) in Aqueous Solution Using Arsenic Aptamer and Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, trace arsenic(iii) (AsIII) in aqueous solution was detected by applying a classical aptamer-based gold nanoparticles colorimetric sensing strategy. An arsenic aptamer was used as a sensing probe and gold nanoparticles as a colorimetric indicator. In the absence of AsIII, the gold nanoparticles were stabilised by the arsenic aptamer and remained dispersed at high NaCl concentrations, displaying a red solution. Contrarily, in the presence of AsIII, the gold nanoparticles were prone to aggregation, owing to the formation of aptamer–AsIII complex between the arsenic aptamer and AsIII, and thus exhibited a blue solution. By monitoring the colour change, a simple and fast colorimetric assay for AsIII was established with a detection range of 1.26–200 ppb and a detection limit of 1.26 ppb. Because this colorimetric assay only involves common reagents and can be assessed visually, it holds great potential for arsenic(iii) monitoring in environment-related and other applications.