ZnS quantum dots as fluorescence sensor for quantitative detection of tetracycline

X-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are synthesized in aqueous solution by a simple aqueous chemical route where X represents 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) or 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (MPS) which are two well-known low cost and stable ligands. The synthesized X-ZnS QDs yielded aqueous suspensions of nanoparticles with excellent monodispersity, water solubility and fluorescence stability with a relatively high fluorescence quantum yield of 11% and 10% for MPA-ZnS QDs and MPS-ZnS QDs respectively. Under optimal conditions, the prepared X-ZnS QDs are used to detect tetracycline (TC) based on their fluorescence quenching induced by the target analyte via electrostatic interaction. The Stern-Volmer-type equation has been fitted to the quenching curve of each QDs, from which MPA-ZnS QDs has shown a larger linear range and a lower limit of detection than MPS-ZnS QDs. The fluorescence response of MPA-ZnS QDs is linearly with respect to TC concentration over a wide range from 200 nM to 6000 nM with a detection limit of 30 pM. The combination of non-toxicity, simplicity and low cost together with high analytical performance of the proposed MPA-ZnS QDs make it promising for the determination of trace TC in food products of animal origin.

Automated summary

X-ZnS quantum dots were synthesized in aqueous solution with excellent properties for detecting tetracycline, and MPA-ZnS QDs showed a larger linear range and a lower limit of detection compared to MPS-ZnS QDs.