Fluorescent Sensor Technologies for Pesticide Detection
Summary
Fluorescent sensor technologies harness the unique light‐emitting properties of fluorophores to detect trace levels of pesticide residues in environmental and food samples. These approaches span small‐molecule probes, nanoscale materials such as carbon dots and quantum dots, and metal nanoclusters functionalised with recognition elements. Key sensing mechanisms include fluorescence quenching, turn-on/off responses and ratiometric measurements, often coupled to biological receptors (aptamers, enzymes), molecularly imprinted polymers or supramolecular hosts (cyclodextrins, calixarenes). Advances in nanomaterial synthesis have improved quantum yields, stability and biocompatibility, while integration with portable fluorometers and smartphone-based readers has enabled on-site testing. Recent efforts focus on multiplexed detection of organophosphates, carbamates and herbicides with limits of detection in the nanomolar to low-parts-per-billion range. Applications range from real-time water quality assessment to rapid screening of fruits and vegetables, supporting regulatory compliance and public health. Ongoing challenges include maintaining selectivity in complex matrices, minimising interference from coexisting substances and ensuring robust performance under field conditions. Future directions envisage fully automated microfluidic platforms and new fluorogenic recognition motifs for rapid, cost-effective pesticide surveillance on a global scale.
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Fluorescent Sensor Technologies for Pesticide Detection publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fluorescent sensor technologies for pesticide detection across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Fluorescence quenching: Reduction in fluorescence intensity caused by interaction between a fluorophore and a quencher or analyte.
Carbon dots (CDs): Nanoscale carbon-based particles that exhibit strong fluorescence, high quantum yield and good biocompatibility.
Quantum dots (QDs): Semiconductor nanocrystals whose emission wavelength is tuned by particle size, used as sensitive fluorophores.
Ratiometric sensing: Measurement of two fluorescence signals (reference and responsive) to improve accuracy and compensate for environmental fluctuations.
Supramolecular chemistry: Design of non-covalent host–guest systems, such as cyclodextrin or calixarene complexes, for selective binding of target molecules.
References
- Ultrasensitive fluorescent detection of pesticides in real sample by using green carbon dots. PLOS ONE (2020).
- Fluorescence-Based Sensing of Pesticides Using Supramolecular Chemistry. Frontiers in Chemistry (2021).
- Ratiometric Sensing of Glyphosate in Water Using Dual Fluorescent Carbon Dots. Sensors (2023).
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