Development of A Nano-Sensor (FeNSOR) Based Device for Estimation of Iron Ions in Biological and Environmental Samples

Iron ion, an essential element for environmental as well as biological systems, has to be present in a controlled manner. Presence of excess iron and also the deficiency of iron ions in environmental (groundwater) and biological systems (blood serum and parts of the plant) is an enduring concern. Here we have developed a nano-sensor (FeNSOR) using a neutral micelle (TX-100) duly sensitized by porphyrin. We have also fabricated an instrument called “FeNSOR Device” (Iron sensor) based on the developed nano-sensor using a digital Pi-camera with associated hardware and software. The device works on the principle of fluorescence spectrophotometry. The efficacy of the nano-sensor and the device for the detection and estimation of iron ions in groundwater as well as in human blood serum is found to be in sub-molar range, having minimum interference with other ions. The limit of detection and the standard deviation of the mean were found to be
$0.07~\mu \text{M}$
and
$0.016~\mu \text{M}$
, respectively. The developed device is easy to handle, and has a higher sensitivity and repeatability than the commercially available ones.