Sulfadiazine detection in aquatic products using upconversion nanosensor based on photo-induced electron transfer with imidazole ligands and copper ions

Abstract

Contamination of aquatic products with sulfonamide antibiotics poses a threat to consumer health and can lead to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Common methods to detect such compounds are slow and require expensive instruments. We developed a sensitive sulfadiazine (SDZ) detection method based on the photoinduced electron transfer between UCNPs and Cu2+. The surface-modified upconversion nanoparticles bind to Cu2+ by electrostatic adsorption, causing fluorescence quenching. The quenched fluorescence was subsequently recovered by the addition of imidazole and SDZ to the detection system, which formed a complex with Cu2+. The sensor showed excellent linearity over a wide concentration range (0.05–1000 ng/mL), had a low limit of detection (0.04 ng/mL), was selective, and was not affected by common substances present in aquatic media. This indicates that the sensor has great potential for application in the detection of SDZ residues in aquatic products.