Label-free detection of Thiram pesticide on flexible SERS-active substrate

Thiram (tetramethyl thiuram disulfide) is a fungicide and is used for crop protection. It has several healthrelated issues when we consume this for a long period. Food and drug administration (FDA) warns higher than 30 mu M (7 ppm) limit. Hence, the monitoring of the Thiram pesticide in foods and vegetables is of utmost importance. Conventional techniques such as GC-MS, HPLC and LC-MS available for quantification of pesticides are very costly, time-consuming and require sophisticated laboratory with highly skilled manpower. This work aims to design and develop an efficient label-free SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) active substrate which can detect a very low-level concentration of pesticides with low cost and simple process.

Automated summary

Thiram is a fungicide with health-related issues when consumed regularly. Monitoring its presence in food and vegetables is crucial. This study aims to develop a low-cost and simple label-free SERS active substrate for detecting low-level concentrations of Thiram.