Synthesis of acyclovir stabilized silver nanoparticles for selective recognition of Hg2+ in different media

Heavy metals that are part of our environment have an undeniably negative impact on human life and the ecosystem due to their inherent toxicity. Mercury (Hg) is an omnipresent heavy metal that has gained the exceptional attention of researchers due to its deleterious effects on the ecosystem as well as human health. In this study, highly sensitive acyclovir stabilized silver nanoparticles (AC-AgNPs) were synthesized using a chemical reduction method and were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, as well as other characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The synthesized AC-AgNPs were of small size (44.1 nm) with uniform size distribution (PDI = 0.8), uniform morphology and had - 17.4 mV zeta potential. The AC-AgNPs were used to detect Hg2+ spiked in deionized, river, seawater, and human blood plasma samples. The nanosensor was highly selective for sensing of Hg2+ even in the presence of other competing metal ions, a concentrated solution of electrolyte (2 M), a wide range of pH (5-14), and human blood plasma. The Jobs plot experiment showed 1:2 binding stoichiometry between AC-AgNPs and Hg2+ with a limit of detection of 0.00035 mM. Results of this study show that the synthesized nanoparticles have the potential to be used for the development of a new colorimetric sensor for selective and easy detection of Hg2+ ions in different media.