A simple and sensitive colorimetric method for the determination of propafenone by silver nanoprobe

A simple, rapid and ultrasensitive colorimetric method for the determination of propafenone, based on the specific recognition property of propafenone with the unique optical properties of AgNPs, has been developed. The addition of propafenone induced the citrate to be desorbed from the surface of the AgNPs, leading to the aggregation of the AgNPs, accompanied by a dramatic surface plasmon absorption band shift and thereby results in their yellow-to-red even purple color change. The concentration of propafenone can be determined by monitoring with the naked eyes or a UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The detection limit of the present method for propafenone was 2.4 μM. The proposed method is a promising mean for on-site detection of propafenone in actual samples without costly instruments.