Molecularly imprinted polymer/CdTe quantum dots-decorated polymer optic fiber microprobes for Amoxicillin detection

Jianfeng Liang1, Qixuan Wu1, Ran Xiao1

  • 1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanotechnology Research Center, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Centre for Functional Biomaterials, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Insights

A new polymer optical fiber microprobe sensor accurately detects amoxicillin (AMX) residues. This residue-free sensor offers a sensitive and specific method for monitoring AMX in food and environmental samples.

Area of Science:

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Amoxicillin (AMX) residues in food and environment pose public health risks, necessitating precise monitoring.
  • Conventional fluorescence probes for AMX detection have limitations including poor specificity, safety concerns, and difficulty in in situ monitoring.
  • Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and quantum dots (QDs) offer potential for developing advanced sensing materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel, sensitive, and specific sensor for detecting amoxicillin (AMX) residues.
  • To overcome the limitations of existing fluorescence-based detection methods for AMX.
  • To enable in situ and residue-free monitoring of AMX in biological and environmental samples.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a polymer optical fiber microprobe (POF MP) decorated with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and CdTe quantum dots (QDs).
  • Utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy for the detection of AMX based on the MIP/CdTe QD composite.
  • Characterization of the sensor's performance, including detection range, limit of detection, specificity, and reusability.

Main Results:

  • The developed MIP/CdTe QD-decorated POF MP sensor demonstrated high specificity and stability for AMX detection.
  • The sensor achieved a linear detection range of 0.5–50 μg/L with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.31 μg/L.
  • The sensor exhibited excellent biocompatibility, safety, and enabled residue-free, in situ monitoring.

Conclusions:

  • The novel MIP/CdTe QD-decorated POF MP sensor provides a promising and innovative solution for precise AMX monitoring.
  • This sensor addresses key limitations of conventional methods, offering advantages in specificity, reusability, and safety.
  • The technology has significant potential for applications in microenvironmental monitoring, pharmaceutical sensing, and biomedical therapeutics.