A Point-of-Use Assay Based on Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Rapid Determination of Triclosan in Environmental Water and Mouthwash

Abstract

Triclosan, a widely used antibacterial agent found in many consumer and personal care products, is known to contaminate aquatic environments. This study introduces a point-of-use assay for detecting triclosan in personal care products and environmental water utilizing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology with gold octahedra (AuOH) as the SERS-active substrate. Our innovative one-step detection strategy yields results within 8 min, demonstrating satisfactory recovery rates for triclosan in both water and mouthwash samples. The point-of-use assay showcases a robust correlation between the signal intensity and the logarithmic concentration of triclosan, ranging from 2 ppb to 5 ppm, achieving linearity (R2) values exceeding 0.9, with acceptable reproducibility. Furthermore, high-throughput fingerprint identification and quantitative analysis of triclosan were accomplished through the implementation of SERS in 48-well plates. The limits of detection were established in the ranges of 1.70 and 1.91 ppb in water and mouthwash. Precision was evaluated at three spike levels, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) lower than 12%. A comparative evaluation with high-performance liquid chromatography results demonstrated a strong concordance, underscoring the advantages of the SERS approach, which offers enhanced efficiency and user-friendliness. This instantaneous monitoring strategy presents significant potential for the ongoing assessment of triclosan in various matrices.