Highly Selective Fluorescence Sensor Based on Graphene Quantum Dots for Sulfamethoxazole Determination

Abstract

In our research, a reliable fluorescence sensor for the detection of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) was developed. This method relies on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) entrapped in a silica molecularly imprinted polymer (GQDs@SMIP), which was synthesized by the polymerization using GQDs, SMZ, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as fluorescence material, template, cross-linker, and functional monomers, respectively. The GQDs@SMIP was characterized by fluorometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The GQDs@SMIP exhibited a good capacity to absorb SMZ from solution, which resulted in the quenching of the GQD fluorescence intensity. The intensity of GQDs@SMIP decreased linearly with the SMZ concentration in the range of 1 to 100 µM with a correlation coefficient of 0.99537. In addition, the fluorescence responses of GQDs@SMIP to interfering substances were investigated. The results indicated that there was no effect of interfering substances on SMZ detection. Thus, the highly selective GQDs@SMIP fluorescence sensor is an effective and promising device for SMZ detection and analysis.

Comprehensive Review on Synthesis, Applications, and Challenges of Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs)

“…Even though biomass is an ecofriendly, renewable, cost-effective, reliable, and natural source of carbon, it can now be used in the mass production of GQDs [51]. Recently, biomass like rice grain [52], wood charcoal [53], tea waste [54], rice husk [55], plant leaves [56], flowers [57], durian, lignin [58], cow milk [59], and molasses [60] have been used as precursors to synthesize GQDs. However, GQDs with high quantum yield is hard to procure directly from biomass material, and investigators enhanced GQD quantum yield by doping of heteroatoms, which complicate the synthesis process.…”

Recent progress on graphene quantum dots‐based fluorescence sensors for food safety and quality assessment applications

“…Le and co-workers developed a simple GQDs-based fluorescence probe to detect SMZ by entrapping GQDs in a silica based molecularly imprinted polymer (GQDs@SMIP). The polymer matrix was achieved through polymerization reaction involving GQDs, SMZ, tetraethoxysilane, and 3aminopropyltriethoxysilane as fluorescence material, template, cross-linker, and functional monomers, respectively (Le et al, 2020). The sensing principle relies on the ability of GQDs@SMIP to selectively bind to SMZ present in the solution, which could induce significant quenching in the fluorescence intensity of GQD (Figure 6[ii]).…”

“…I G U R E 6 (i) Schematic diagram of the synthesis of amine-functionalized N-GQDs and N-GQDs@MIPs and their application for TC analysis (reproduced fromZhang, Wang, Fang, et al [2020] with permission from Wiley). (ii) Synthesis and application of GQDs coated with silica molecularly imprinted polymer in sulfamethoxazole detection (reproduced fromLe et al [2020] with permission from MDPI). (iii) Scheme illustrating the sulfadiazine detection using AgNPs-GQDs probe (reproduced fromAfsharipour et al [2020] with permission from Springer Nature) different animal-based food samples, namely, milk, honey, fish, eggs, and chicken muscle, with good recoveries.In another work, researchers developed a novel fluorescent sensor for TC in aqueous samples by combining GQDs with MIPs.…”

Graphene-Based Materials, Their Composites, and Potential Applications

“…In particular, it offers two review papers, one from Zamri and Haseeb on the application of graphene/conductive polymer composites such as chemiresistive sensors focusing on the preparation methods and sensing performance of these composites [ 10 ], and the other by Ramírez et al [ 11 ] on the variety of applications of comparatively lesser known graphene/ceramic composites, each giving full insides and prospectives for those composites. The article by Le et al [ 12 ] develops a fluorescence sensor for the detection of antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole) based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) entrapped in a molecularly imprinted silica polymer that can be applied in biomedical and environmental systems.…”

“… A schematic diagram of the graphene composites spectrum and their potential uses along with representative examples of materials and uses from the articles included in this Special Issue. ( a ) A schematic of the applications of graphene-based composites in Li-ion battery electrodes described in [ 11 ]; ( b ) a high annular dark field (HAADF) micrograph of an Al/2GNP/1Al 2 O 3 composite [ 13 ]; ( c ) an isometric view of a PAO8/ZDDP/graphene W-DLC surface after a ball-on-disc test [ 14 ]; ( d ) CVD graphene-coated γ-Al 2 O 3 nanofiber [ 15 ]; ( e ) reinforced 3D-printed MWCNT and rGO/Al 2 O 3 scaffolds [ 16 ]; ( f ) a schematic of an experimental setup for gas-sensing applications [ 10 ]; ( g ) a schematic diagram of sulfamethoxazole detection by silica-coated GQDs [ 12 ]. …”