Molecularly imprinted nanofiber SERS films for sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA), a pervasive endocrine disruptor in plastics, poses serious risks to human health and the environment. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) provides high sensitivity and label-free detection. However, conventional substrates often exhibit heterogeneous hotspot distribution and lack molecular selectivity, limiting their reliability in complex matrices. Herein, combining the molecular imprinting specific recognition capability with the electrospun nanofiber large surface area, we present a molecularly imprinted nanofiber SERS substrate for the rapid, sensitive, and selective BPA detection. Using BPA as the template, the substrate achieved rapid adsorption equilibrium within 5 min, high capacity, and strong selectivity. Response surface optimization identified the optimal fabrication parameters, yielding a normalized enhancement factor of 4.89. Coupled with partial least squares regression, the system enabled accurate quantification of BPA over the range of 2 × 10 − 8 -6 × 10 − 7 mol/L, with excellent linearity (R² = 0.997) and prediction error below 2 mg/L. This strategy establishes a robust and generalizable platform for highly sensitive, selective, and on-site detection of BPA, offering broad potential in food safety, environmental monitoring, and public health.