Rapid detection and differentiation of chlortetracycline and tetracycline by N,P-Ti3C2 QDs

Abstract

Ti3C2 QDs with good water solubility and photoluminescence properties was prepared by nitrogen and phosphorus doping (N,P-Ti3C2 QDs). The probe has a fluorescence emission peak at 420 nm and emits bright blue fluorescence, which can distinguish and detect two antibiotics with similar structures, chlortetracycline (CTC) and tetracycline (TC). The fluorescence enhancement effect can be realized by the interaction with CTC. The linear range is 2–22 μM, and the detection limit is as low as 0.53 μM. And the change of fluorescent color from bright blue to bright purple can be observed with the naked eye. At the same time, with the addition of TC, the fluorescence of N,P-Ti3C2 QDs can be quenched by static quenching effect, and the fluorescence color changes from bright blue to yellowish green. The detection range is 4.1–20.5 μM, and the detection limit is as low as 0.16 μM.Therefore, on this basis, a strategy for simultaneous detection and recognition of CTC and TC is proposed. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of CTC and TC in milk samples. This paper provides a new detection method for the identification of tetracycline antibiotics and taps the application potential of Ti3C2 QDs in food detection.