# Graphene-based Nanosensors for Rapid Detection of Low-concentration PFAS in Water

> **NIH NIH R43** · NANOAFFIX SCIENCE, LLC · 2024 · $293,800

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Access to safe drinking water is critical for human health and healthy ecosystems. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) have been found to cause cancer and other health issues and it is becoming known how
widespread they are in the environment. PFAS does not breakdown in the environment and slowly accumulates
over time. This causes the amount of carcinogenic material in the environment to gradually accumulate over time,
which increases health risks. These compounds have been used extensively for decades to manufacture products
such as materials to extinguish fires, add water repellency to fabric, and in non-stick cookware. Two of the most
common are perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). These compounds are
toxic and prevalent in water systems used for human consumption at low concentrations, but testing is performed
infrequently on samples shipped to laboratories for analysis with expensive equipment by trained technicians.
Therefore, there is an unmet need for a rapid, low-cost, point-of-use testing device.
 This project intends to address this unmet need through the development of graphene-based sensor chips
and a portable handheld detector capable of measuring low concentrations of PFAS in water using PFOS and
PFOA as model PFAS compounds. NanoAffix has developed graphene-based sensors on gold interdigitated
electrodes (IDEs) that are capable of rapid detection of other contaminants in water at point-of-use. This disruptive
technology takes advantage of the unique properties of graphene to detect small changes in conductivity caused
by contaminants binding to the graphene-based sensor surface. This small change in conductivity can be
correlated to concentration to provide quantitative results. A probe is immobilized onto the graphene-based sensor
surface to add specificity to the sensors. PFAS have been shown to selectively attach to β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)
due to its unique cage-like structure enabling host-guest interactions, together with electrostatic and hydrophobic
interactions between PFAS and β-CD. NanoAffix has the objectives of developing a proof-of-concept technology
to detect PFAS down to 1 ng/L (ppt) within 50% of results obtained by LC-MS-MS, studying the effect of potential
interfering species and minimizing the impact to below 20% of the signal response, and demonstrating sensor
performance with a prototype handheld testing device. The development of this prototype testing device will
provide rapid and onsite results for the detection of these carcinogens in water and enable cost-effective mitigation
strategies to be implemented to improve the quality and safety of drinking water.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10920945
- **Project number:** 1R43ES036055-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NANOAFFIX SCIENCE, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** James Curtis Hill
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $293,800
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-15 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10920945

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10920945, Graphene-based Nanosensors for Rapid Detection of Low-concentration PFAS in Water (1R43ES036055-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10920945. Licensed CC0.

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