GSH-AuNCs/Cu2+ as selective fluorescent sensing probe for sensitive determination of glyphosate in the environment

The sensitive and selective detection of glyphosate (Gly) in the environment is urgently need because it has significant implications for human health and environmental safety. In this work, a GSH-AuNCs/Cu 2+ sensing probe was fabricated via the coordination between Cu 2+ and GSH-AuNCs, which resulted in the suppression of the fluorescence of GSH-AuNCs. Glyphosate can competitively grasp Cu 2+ from GSH-AuNCs/Cu 2+ , leading to fluorescence recovery. Thereby, a simple and sensitive “turn-on” fluorescence strategy was developed for the quantitative detection of glyphosate. The linear range of glyphosate detection is 0.25 ∼ 1.25 μM, with a detection limit of 92.16 ng/mL. This method was demonstrated selectivity, fast response, and sensitivity, making it suitable for the quantitative determination of glyphosate in real water samples. Furthermore, a paper-based test strip was constructed using the sensing probe, which enabled on-site visual and semiquantitative detection of Gly. Overall, our strategy provides new opportunities for determination of organophosphorus pesticides in the environment.