Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detection

Formaldehyde (FA) is a common pollutant found indoors and outdoors, posing a significant threat to human health. Therefore, developing sensitive and efficient detection methods for FA is essential for environmental monitoring and protecting public health. Herein, we report a naphthalimide-conjugated...

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Main Authors: Subhadip Roy, Swagata Pan, Swaminathan Sivaram, Priyadarsi De
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14686996.2025.2469493
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author Subhadip Roy
Swagata Pan
Swaminathan Sivaram
Priyadarsi De
author_facet Subhadip Roy
Swagata Pan
Swaminathan Sivaram
Priyadarsi De
author_sort Subhadip Roy
collection DOAJ
description Formaldehyde (FA) is a common pollutant found indoors and outdoors, posing a significant threat to human health. Therefore, developing sensitive and efficient detection methods for FA is essential for environmental monitoring and protecting public health. Herein, we report a naphthalimide-conjugated water-soluble polymeric fluorescent probe for the detection of FA in both aqueous and vapor phases using fluorimetric methods. The aromatic amines present in the side chain of the polymer react with FA, forming a Schiff base (imine bond). This imine formation inhibits the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process within the polymer, leading to a ‘turn-on’ fluorescence under 365 nm UV light. The probe is capable of selectively sensing FA with a detection limit as low as 1.36 nM in aqueous medium. The formation of imine is confirmed for the model reaction between 6-(4-aminophenyl)-2-(4-((4-vinylbenzyl)oxy)phenyl)-1 h-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2 h)-dione and FA by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) titration methods. The mechanism behind ‘turn-on’ FA sensing is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) analysis. Additionally, the study demonstrates a facile approach for covalently attaching the polymer on the surface of a filter paper surface via ultraviolet (UV) light-induced cross-linking. Such polymer attached paper exhibits FA vapor sensing through changes in fluorescence intensity.
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spelling doaj-art-b7d868cd8a674954b64ea25aedd62fdd2025-08-20T02:30:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScience and Technology of Advanced Materials1468-69961878-55142025-12-0126110.1080/14686996.2025.2469493Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detectionSubhadip Roy0Swagata Pan1Swaminathan Sivaram2Priyadarsi De3Polymer Research Centre and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, West Bengal, IndiaPolymer Research Centre and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, West Bengal, IndiaIndian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, Pune, IndiaPolymer Research Centre and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, West Bengal, IndiaFormaldehyde (FA) is a common pollutant found indoors and outdoors, posing a significant threat to human health. Therefore, developing sensitive and efficient detection methods for FA is essential for environmental monitoring and protecting public health. Herein, we report a naphthalimide-conjugated water-soluble polymeric fluorescent probe for the detection of FA in both aqueous and vapor phases using fluorimetric methods. The aromatic amines present in the side chain of the polymer react with FA, forming a Schiff base (imine bond). This imine formation inhibits the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process within the polymer, leading to a ‘turn-on’ fluorescence under 365 nm UV light. The probe is capable of selectively sensing FA with a detection limit as low as 1.36 nM in aqueous medium. The formation of imine is confirmed for the model reaction between 6-(4-aminophenyl)-2-(4-((4-vinylbenzyl)oxy)phenyl)-1 h-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2 h)-dione and FA by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) titration methods. The mechanism behind ‘turn-on’ FA sensing is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) analysis. Additionally, the study demonstrates a facile approach for covalently attaching the polymer on the surface of a filter paper surface via ultraviolet (UV) light-induced cross-linking. Such polymer attached paper exhibits FA vapor sensing through changes in fluorescence intensity.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14686996.2025.2469493Formaldehydepolymeric probefluorometric sensingSchiff base formationaqueous and vapor phase detection
spellingShingle Subhadip Roy
Swagata Pan
Swaminathan Sivaram
Priyadarsi De
Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detection
Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Formaldehyde
polymeric probe
fluorometric sensing
Schiff base formation
aqueous and vapor phase detection
title Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detection
title_full Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detection
title_fullStr Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detection
title_full_unstemmed Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detection
title_short Naphthalimide-based fluorescent polymeric probe: a dual-phase sensor for formaldehyde detection
title_sort naphthalimide based fluorescent polymeric probe a dual phase sensor for formaldehyde detection
topic Formaldehyde
polymeric probe
fluorometric sensing
Schiff base formation
aqueous and vapor phase detection
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14686996.2025.2469493
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AT swagatapan naphthalimidebasedfluorescentpolymericprobeadualphasesensorforformaldehydedetection
AT swaminathansivaram naphthalimidebasedfluorescentpolymericprobeadualphasesensorforformaldehydedetection
AT priyadarside naphthalimidebasedfluorescentpolymericprobeadualphasesensorforformaldehydedetection