Resonance Rayleigh scattering spectral method for the determination of raloxifene using gold nanoparticle as a probe

When gold nanoparticles were being prepared by sodium citrate reduction method, citrate anions self-assembled on the surface of gold nanoparticles to form supermolecular complex anions with negative charges, and protonated raloxifene (Ralo) was positively charged and could bind with the complex anions to form larger aggregates through electrostatic force and hydrophobic effects, which could result in the remarkable enhancement of the resonance Rayleigh scattering intensity (RRS), and the appearance of new RRS spectra. At the same time, the second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency-doubling scattering (FDS) intensities were also enhanced. The maximum wavelengths were located near 370 nm for RRS, 520 nm for SOS, and 350 nm for FDS, respectively. Among them, the RRS method had the highest sensitivity and the detection limit was 5.60 ng mL−1 for Ralo, and its linear range was 0.05-2.37 μg mL−1. A new RRS method for the determination of trace Ralo using gold nanoparticles probe was developed. The optimum conditions of the reaction and influencing factors were investigated. In addition, the reaction mechanism and the reasons for the enhancement of RRS were discussed.