Dual-response fluorescent switching sensor for sequential detection of Fe³⁺ and vitamin C in hawthorn

We developed a dual-mode fluorescence sensor based on 4,4'-stilbenedicarboxylic acid (H₂SDC) for the sequential detection of iron ions (Fe³⁺) and vitamin C (VC) in hawthorn (genus Crataegus), a key traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). By leveraging the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties of H₂SDC, the sensor quantifies Fe³⁺ quantification via fluorescence quenching ("turn-off") and subsequently detects VC through Fe³⁺ reduction-triggered signal recovery ("turn-on"). This label-free strategy demonstrates high sensitivity, with linear ranges of 5.0-80.0 μmol L^-1 (Fe³⁺) and 5.0-40.0 μmol L^-1 (VC) and detection limits of 0.200 and 0.132 μmol L^-1, respectively. Real-sample validation in Hawthorn matrices revealed excellent accuracy (spiked recoveries: 98.5-101.7% for Fe³⁺; 97.7-103.0% for VC) and reproducibility (RSD < 3.9%, n = 3). The platform integrates smartphone-assisted analysis to leverage concentration-dependent fluorescence transitions, offering potential for field-deployable threshold screening. As the first AIE-based sensor enabling sequential Fe³⁺/VC detection in herbal medicines, this work provides a rapid, cost-effective alternative to conventional instrumentation (e.g., HPLC/ICP-MS), supporting advancement of quality control for TCM modernization.