Rare-earth ions coordination enhanced ratiometric fluorescent sensing platform for quantitative visual analysis of antibiotic residues in real samples

Levofloxacin (LVFX) as a representative drug of quinolone antibiotics is widely used in clinical, and its residues enriched in water bodies and sideline products seriously damage human health. It is impera-tive to develop a real-time/on-site sensing method for monitoring residual antibiotics. Here, we report a portable sensing platform by utilizing a composite fluorescent nanoprobe constructed by the cerium ions (Ce3 +) coordination functionalized CdTe quantum dots (QDs) for the visual and quantitative detection of LVFX residues. This fluorescent probe provides a distinct color variation from red to green, which shows a good linear relationship to LVFX residues concentrations in the range of 0-6.0 mu mol/L with a sensi-tive limit of detection (LOD) of 16.3 nmol/L. The smartphone platform with Color Analyzer App installed, which could accomplish quantified detection of LVFX in water, milk, and raw pork with a LOD of 27.9 nmol/L. The facile sensing method we proposed realizes rapid visualization of antibiotics residual in the environment and provides a practical application pathway in food safety and human health.(c) 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

A portable sensing platform utilizing a composite fluorescent nanoprobe constructed by cerium ions (Ce3 +) coordination functionalized CdTe quantum dots (QDs) was developed for the visual and quantitative detection of levofloxacin (LVFX) residues. The fluorescent probe exhibited a distinct color variation from red to green, which exhibited a good linear relationship with LVFX residues concentration. The smartphone platform with Color Analyzer App enabled the quantified detection of LVFX in water, milk, and raw pork.