Rapid Detection of Kaempferol Using Surface Molecularly Imprinted Mesoporous Molecular Sieves Embedded with Carbon Dots

Abstract

This work demonstrates rapid sensing of kaempferol using active sensing material synthesized using the one-pot surface-imprinting synthesis method. This sensor consisted of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) consisting of mesoporous molecular sieves (SBA-15) loaded with carbon dots (CDs). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed successful incorporation of CDs onto the surface of imprinted mesoporous molecular sieves. Ordered hexagonal arrays of CDs@SBA-15@MIP mesopore structure were confirmed with transmission electron microscopy. Fluorescence intensity of CDs@SBA-15@MIP composites linearly correlated with kaempferol content in the 0.05–2 mg/L range. Detection limit was 14 μg/L. MIPs were used for efficient detection of kaempferol in fruit and vegetable samples with recovery values from 80% to 112%. The method has high sensitivity, low cost, good selectivity, and many application potentials useful for research and development of flavonoid monomer presence in food.