Lanthanide coordination polymer nanoparticles as a ratiometric fluorescence sensor for real-time and visual detection of tetracycline by a smartphone and test paper based on the analyte-triggered antenna effect and inner filter effect

Abstract

Lanthanide coordination polymer nanoparticles (LML-Eu3+-GMP CPNPs) were fabricated as a ratiometric fluorescence sensor for real-time and visual assays of tetracycline (TC). The LML-Eu3+-GMP CPNPs were prepared by spontaneous self-assembly of Eu3+, luminol (LML) and guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP) at room temperature, which only emitted blue fluorescence dominated by LML, and no red characteristic fluorescence of Eu3+ was observed. In the presence of TC, TC can trigger the antenna effect (AE) and inner filter effect (IFE), the blue fluorescence of LML-Eu3+-GMP CPNPs is quenched by TC via IFE, and the red characteristic fluorescence of Eu3+ can be turned on through AE. When sodium citrate (Cit) is added to the sensing system, it can further enhance the red fluorescence of Eu3+. The dual-ligand CPNP sensor has a rapid fluorescence response, noticeable fluorescence color change, good selectivity, and high sensitivity with a detection limit of 3.4 nM. It was successfully applied to detect TC in honey, milk, lake water and tap water. Meanwhile, the portable smartphone and test paper were applied to develop POCT devices for real-time and visual detection of TC, which could offer a promising application for real-time and semiquantitative assays of TC.