Functional Nanomaterials Using Phenolic Chelating Molecules as Colorimetric and Biological Sensors

Vinod Kumar Vadivel, Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (vinodkumarv@sastra.ac.in)

We have explored the possibility of using strongly metal interacting phenolic chelating molecules as surface functionalizing and structure controlling agent as well as source for carbon quantum dots fabrication. The phenolic chelating molecules were synthesized by simple Schiff base condensation reaction between amino acids and salicylaldehyde followed by reduction. We successfully demonstrated the utilization of multiple functional groups and ionization potential of phenols for reducing, stabilizing and surface functionalizing AgNPs for developing plasmonic nano-sensors for selective colorimetric sensing of toxic metal cations and anions in aqueous solution.

The amino acid structural versatility has also been utilized to modulate the sensing of metal cations. The unusual morphology and self-assembly of AgNPs was obtained with methionine based chelating functional molecules that exhibited strong antibiofilm properties. Further, explored the use of phenolic chelating molecules as precursor for developing fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) that showed selective of multiple metal ions (Zn2+ and Pb2+). The structure property studies to explore the structural design for CQDs precursor and bio-imaging in Zebra fish model have also been evaluated. Thus we have successfully employed phenolic chelating ligands as surface functionalizing and structure controlling agents for nanostructured materials such as (Ag, AuNPs) and also as source for producing fluorescent carbon quantum dots.

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Short Biography of Presenting Author

I received my bachelor’s degree in general chemistry (2009) and master degree in Inorganic chemistry (2011) from VIT University, India. In my postgraduate studies, worked on the synthesis of inorganic nanostructured materials for drug delivery (Hydroxyapatite). Further, carried out my doctoral studies on "Developing nanostructured materials for environmental sensing, catalysis and optoelectronic applications" under the supervision of Dr. S. Philip Anthony, SASTRA university, India. During my doctoral i have published around 23 peer reviewed international papers with cummalative impact factor of 75.234 and over 100 citations. I completed my doctoral degree by August, 2017 and recently joined Dr. Hadas Mammane water laboratory, Tel Aviv University, Israel for my Postdoctoral studies. My research interest-nanofabrication of materials for Water treatment & colorimetric sensing of heavy toxic materials in real time applications.