Fast and sensitive detection of nitroxynil using a chalcone-based supramolecular fluorescent sensor

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Food Safety

Background:

• Nitroxynil is a veterinary drug used to treat parasitic worms in livestock.
• Residual nitroxynil in edible animal products poses risks to human health.
• Effective analytical methods are crucial for monitoring nitroxynil residues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel albumin-based fluorescent sensor for nitroxynil detection.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance in terms of response time, sensitivity, selectivity, and anti-interference capabilities.
• To compare the sensor's accuracy with the standard High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a novel albumin-based fluorescent sensor.
• Detection of nitroxynil using the developed sensor.
• Evaluation of sensor performance metrics (response time, LOD, selectivity, anti-interference).
• Mechanism elucidation using molecular docking and mass spectrometry.
• Comparative analysis with HPLC.

Main Results:

• The sensor demonstrated a fast response time (<10 seconds).
• High sensitivity was achieved with a limit of detection (LOD) of approximately 8.7 ppb.
• The sensor exhibited high selectivity and excellent anti-interference properties.
• Detection accuracy was comparable to the standard HPLC method.
• The sensing mechanism was successfully clarified.

Conclusions:

• The novel albumin-based fluorescent sensor is a practical and effective tool for nitroxynil determination.
• The sensor offers significant advantages over traditional methods, including faster response times and higher sensitivity.
• This development contributes to ensuring food safety by enabling reliable monitoring of nitroxynil residues in food samples.