A novel surface plasmon resonance sensor development for broflanilide determination using molecularly imprinted polymers and sulphur doped reduced graphene oxide@nickel sulfide nanoparticles

Broflanilide (BRO) is anticipated to become a crucial tool in pest management strategies for combating pests developing resistance to traditional noncompetitive antagonists. This study detailed the development of a novel molecularly imprinted surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for detecting BRO in bottled drinking water and rice samples. The initial step involved the hydrothermal synthesis of a sulphur-doped reduced graphene oxide@nickel sulfide nanoparticles (S-rGO@NiS2NPs) nanocomposite. Subsequently, SPR chips incorporating S-rGO@NiS2NPs material were fabricated based on the interaction between the gold surface of the SPR chip and the sulphur component within the nanocomposite. Subsequently, a molecularly imprinted SPR sensor based on S-rGO@NiS2NPs nanocomposite was developed using UV polymerization, employing methacryloylamidoglutamic acid (MAGA) as the functional monomer and N, N′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the radical initiator. The fabricated sensor demonstrated a linear detection range between 1.0 ng L− 1 and 10.0 ng L− 1 and achieved a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.33 ng L− 1. Furthermore, the fabricated SPR sensor was successfully utilized for the analysis of the bottled drinking water and rice samples, producing high recovery. In the final stage, SPR sensor’s stability, selectivity, repeatability, and reproducibility were thoroughly investigated.