Detection of perfuorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS) in liquid samples.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate) are
toxic and persistent compounds resulting from the production and use of fluoropolymers such as Gortex® and
Teflon ®. The structure of PFAS preclude environmental degradation and can lead to bioaccumulation in
animals and humans. Reported adverse effects of these compounds in humans include: increase in serum
cholesterol; elevated risk of prostate cancer; decreased sperm count; and increased risk of preeclampsia. This
proposal describes the synthesis of fluorinated molecularly imprinted polymers (FMIPs) as materials that not
only specifically bind the target analytes but also by the design of the material surface limit non-specific
binding. The FMIPs will be composed of a novel fluorinated crosslinking monomer with 2 different
functionalized co-monomers. The proposed device will use these materials deposited on a proprietary sensor
platform developed at Seacoast Science. During the Phase I work, the concept will be validated against a
representative PFOA and PFOS in in water. To accomplish the Phase I proof of concept work, the following
tasks are proposed: synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated crosslinking monomer, synthesis and
and characterization of FMIP nanoparticles; initial screening/down selection of MIP nanoparticles using a
gravimetric sensor platform; and coating and testing optimum MIP nanoparticles on the proprietary sensor
platform. This tool will allow the real-time monitoring of PFOA/PFOS in fluids. Early adopters of the
technology will be government agencies tasked with environmental monitoring. After this initial use, field
testing, and production optimization, other more risk averse agencies such as water districts may be convinced
to purchase the technology for point detection. The final market is the industrial sources of other
perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The modular nature of the FMIP synthesis allows for a facile change in the
imprinting analyte: the use of systems and methods developed during this project will allow for rapid
optimization of the sensor to a novel PFAS (i. e. F53-B, ADONA, FOSA, E1, 5:3 FTSA). Finally, once the sensor
has been on the market for a sufficient time, it may be adapted for the detection of PFAS in more complex
matrices like biological fluids. This tool will allow wide spread epidemiological studies looking at PFA
exposure levels for large populations.Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are
toxic and persistent compounds resulting from the production and use of fluoropolymers such as Gortex® and
Teflon®. Proposed herein is the synthesis of fluorinated molecularly imprinted polymers (FMIPs) as materials
that not only specifically bind the target analytes but also preclude non-specific binding of interfering
compounds due to its surface properties. Materials deposited on a proprietary sensor platform developed at
Seacoast Science will allow the real-time monitoring of PFOA/PFOS in water and upon optimization in
biological fluids such as blood, saliva, or urine.