Functionalization of silver nanoparticles with mPEGylated luteolin for selective visual detection of Hg2+ in water sample.

A novel colorimetric sensor based on mPEGylated luteolin-functionalized silver nanoparticles (mPEGylated luteolin-AgNPs) in an aqueous solution was prepared. The mPEGylated luteolin-AgNP solution was utilized to detect Hg2+ with high sensitivity and selectivity in the presence of other metal cations including Na+, K+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Ba2+, Pb2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Al3+ and Cu2+. The solution could be induced to aggregate, and a color change from yellow-brown to colorless was observed in the presence of Hg2+. Meanwhile, the sensor was successfully used to detect Hg2+ in tap water with satisfactory recovery ranges using the standard addition method.