Biocompatible Ionic Liquid Based on Curcumin as Fluorescence Probe for Detecting Benzoyl Peroxide without the Interference of H2O2.

Accurate estimation of the level of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is of considerable significance because of its threat to humanity and environment. Several research efforts have been devoted to the detection of BPO by fluorescent method with high sensitivity and selectivity. However, it remains challenging to eliminate the interference of H2O2 due to its similar properties to BPO. In this work, the first demonstration of fluorescent and colorimetric probe for specific detection of BPO without the disturbance of H2O2 was achieved by curcumin-based ionic liquid (CIL) that possesses simple fabrication, good biocompatibility, and low cost. The fluorescence quenches and emission peak blue-shifts once the probe selectively interacts with BPO, whereas the other possible interfering agents, including H2O2, do not have this phenomenon. The probe CIL exhibits prominent sensitivity for BPO sensing and enables the detection limit at levels as ultralow as 10 nM. The local detection of BPO in practical samples is realized by visualization using a portable device derived from CIL-based liquid atomizer.