Xue Gu, Xinyu Gou, Yan Jiang, Xiangquan Liu, Binbin Zhai, Ruijuan Wen, Zhiyan Ma*, Yu Fang*. Anal. Chem. 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c04302

3-Hydroxy-2-butanone (3H2B) is a key gaseous metabolite of Listeria monocytogenes, a potential lung cancer biomarker, and a widely used food flavoring agent, underscoring the demand for real-time monitoring solutions. In this study, we designed a salicylaldehyde-functionalized 1,8-naphthalimide derivative (NI-OH-CHO) and reacted it with 1,3,5-tri(4-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB) at a liquid/liquid interface to synthesize fluorescent NI-TAPB nanofilms.

Figure 1. Schematic Molecular Structures of Building Blocks and Preparation Schematic of NI-TAPB Nanofilm through Interfacial Polymerization, with Subsequent Deprotonation Mechanism.

Upon deprotonation, the nanofilms (NI-TAPB@F) exhibit a reversible and unprecedented fluorescence response to 3H2B. Leveraging this discovery, we developed a fluorescent 3H2B sensor with exceptional performance: ultrahigh sensitivity (detection limit: ∼ 1.8 ppb), rapid response (<8 s), outstanding selectivity, and remarkable stability at room temperature. These advantages stem from the rational design of binding sites and the porous structure of the nanofilms.

Figure 2. 3H2B Sensing Performance of the Fluorescent Sensor.

Furthermore, visual 3H2B detection was achieved using the deprotonated films. Notably, the nanofilms are self-standing, self-adhesive, and flexible, enabling substrate-independent detection by eliminating interference from background color or emission. These properties also facilitate on-site qualitative and quantitative analysis. We anticipate this work will pave the way for the development of portable 3H2B detection devices.

First Author: Gu Xue, doctoral candidate, Shaanxi Normal University

Correspondence Author: Prof. Fang Yu, Shaanxi Normal University; Dr. Ma Zhiyan, Shaanxi Normal University.

Full Text Link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c04302