A multifunctional fluorescent sensor for sequential off-on-off visual detection of Zn²⁺ and glyphosate in food and biological matrices and efficient removal of Zn²⁺ from aqueous media.

Authors

Xiao Han, Yao Li, Xinyi Tan, Wenlong Qin, Haiyan Xu, Chuanxiang Chen

Published in

Analytica chimica acta. Volume 1416. Pages 345825. Sep 22, 2026. Epub Jun 09, 2026.

Abstract

Zinc ions (Zn²⁺) are essential trace elements that play crucial roles in numerous physiological processes. However, their imbalance can induce harmful effects. This dual nature renders the monitoring and removal of Zn²⁺ critical for public health. In addition, the widespread use of glyphosate (Glyp) pesticide in the environment poses a serious threat to the eco-system. Therefore, developing integrated platforms that combine precise tracking with efficient absorption of Zn²⁺/Glyp from environmental and food matrices is essential for ensuring food safety and safeguarding public health.
Herein, we developed a high-performance Zn²⁺ chemosensor, X6, via one-step condensation of pyridoxal hydrochloride and 1H-indole-2-carbohydrazide. X6 rapidly (within 30 s) and selectively reacted with Zn²⁺ to form a stable 1:1 complex (X6-Zn²⁺), accompanied by a distinct colorless-to-yellow color change and an immediate fluorescence "turn-on" response. Meanwhile, the resulting metal complex, X6-Zn²⁺, demonstrated high performance in glyphosate (Glyp) detection within 20s, achieving a detection limit of 33.6 nM. Taking advantage of the three-dimensional network structure of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for controlled loading and release, X6 was embedded into a PVA hydrogel, enabling both dual-signal sensing and efficient removal of Zn²⁺ from aqueous environments. For practical applications, X6-based test strips were integrated with smartphone-assisted analysis, enabling real-time visual and sequential detection of Zn²⁺ and Glyp residues in complex matrices. Moreover, X6 was successfully applied to the qualitative detection of Zn²⁺ and Glyp residues in food and biological samples.
This work presents a multifunctional sensor platform for Zn²⁺ that integrated rapid visual detection, quantitative analysis, efficient removal, and bioimaging capabilities. Furthermore, this platform also provided a versatile strategy for monitoring Glyp residues, demonstrating considerable potential for applications in environmental monitoring, food safety, and biological imaging.

PMID:
42401480
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 05 Jul 2026.

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