Smart Fluorescent Polymeric Materials for Real-Time Formaldehyde Detection

Pan, Swagata (2026) Smart Fluorescent Polymeric Materials for Real-Time Formaldehyde Detection. PhD thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (PhD thesis of Swagata Pan (20RS123)) 20RS123.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (10MB)

Abstract

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of analytical methods for detecting formaldehyde (FA), a highly toxic compound known for its mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects. Owing to its widespread use in industrial products and its harmful impact on human health and the environment, the reliable detection of FA has become an important research focus. A wide range of sensing strategies has been reported, including electrochemical sensors, fluorescence-based techniques, colorimetric assays, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Among these approaches, fluorescence sensing has emerged as particularly attractive because of its simple operation, high sensitivity, low instrumentation cost, good tissue penetration, and suitability for real-time monitoring. Current FA sensing platforms can broadly be divided into two categories: small-molecule probes and polymer-based systems. While small-molecule fluorescent sensors have been extensively studied, they often suffer from practical limitations such as poor water solubility, susceptibility to photobleaching, limited stability, and interference from background fluorescence. In contrast, water-soluble polymeric probes provide a promising alternative, offering unique advantages in terms of structural tunability, signal amplification, and operational robustness. These features make polymeric systems especially suitable for applications in complex aqueous environments and real-world samples. The present work is centered on the design, synthesis, and application of water-soluble fluorescent polymeric probes for the sensitive and selective detection of FA in both aqueous solutions and vapour phase. The polymeric probes developed in this study are engineered to exhibit strong fluorescence, excellent water solubility, high chemical stability, and a pronounced response toward FA. Compared to conventional small-molecule sensors, these polymer-based probes demonstrate improved fluorescence intensity, reduced photobleaching, and a higher signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in more reliable and reproducible detection. The sensing mechanism relies on specific chemical interactions between FA and reactive functional groups embedded within the polymer backbone. These interactions trigger a measurable change in the fluorescence properties of the probe, allowing FA to be detected with high sensitivity. The probes exhibit rapid response times and very low detection limits, reaching the nanomolar range, along with remarkable selectivity against other potentially interfering species. Such performance highlights their suitability for practical applications, including environmental monitoring and exposure assessment. To enhance real-world applicability, the polymeric probes have also been integrated into solid-state sensing formats, such as test strips, enabling portable and field-deployable FA detection. These platforms allow for simple, visual, and on-site analysis without the need for sophisticated instrumentation. Furthermore, the synthetic routes and functionalization strategies employed in this work are designed to be cost-effective and scalable, which is an important consideration for future commercialization. Overall, comparative studies indicate that the newly developed polymeric probes outperform many existing FA sensors in terms of sensitivity, response speed, and operational stability. This research not only demonstrates the practical advantages of water-soluble fluorescent polymers for FA detection but also provides insights into current challenges and future directions in this field. The findings presented here contribute to the growing body of work on polymer-based chemical sensors and highlight their potential as next-generation tools for efficient and reliable formaldehyde monitoring.

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