The persistent use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has resulted in their accumulation in ecosystems and biomagnification in humans, posing severe health risks, including kidney, breast, and testicular cancers, along with metabolic disruptions. However, the lack of platforms capable of simultaneous PFAS self-adsorption and self-detection has limited eco-friendly solutions, hindering effective PFAS management. Herein, we introduce an eco-friendly cellulose-based nanosensor platform capable of PFAS separation and monitoring through self-adsorption and self-sensing. The paper-based nanosensor effectively self-adsorbs PFAS, which exists as acids in natural environments, through its tailored polymer coating, while its porous cellulose structure provided an increased surface area to further enhance PFAS adsorption. Following sufficient adsorption, the presence of PFAS is sensitively detected via surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) employing embedded silver nanoparticles, enabling ultratrace detection and multi-analyte sensing of various PFAS, including perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). By integrating PFAS capture and detection, this platform advances water safety, contributing to food security and environmental health.
Project is currently funded by: State & Other Govt