Rapid organic solvent extraction coupled with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic mapping for ultrasensitive quantification of foliarly applied silver nanoparticles in plant leaves

A rapid (2 h) organic solvent-based approach was developed to extract silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from spinach leaves. The extracted AgNPs were enriched on a filter membrane and quantified by a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) mapping technique. The lowest detectable concentration of AgNPs was 1 ng mL(-1) and the accuracy was 74-113%.