The work described
a new colorimetric sensor for the quantitative
detection of clindamycin based on Au@Ag core–shell nanoparticles
(Au@Ag NPs). The obtained Au@Ag NPs were characterized by transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry
(UV–vis). When Au@Ag NPs were added to a clindamycin solution,
it can be observed that the color immediately changed from bright
yellow to gray-blue and the absorption spectrum also changed, realizing
the visual detection of clindamycin. Under optimal conditions, the
absorption ratio (A
546/A
400) of the UV–vis spectra increased linearly with
the concentration of clindamycin ranging from 6.25 × 10–7 to 7.50 × 10–6 mol/L (R
2 = 0.9945), with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.00 ×
10–7 mol/L and good recovery of 100.0–102.0%
(relative standard deviation (RSD) < 2%). The detection process
was convenient without complicated instruments. Compared with other
analytes, the Au@Ag NPs detection system has good selectivity for
clindamycin. In addition, the Au@Ag NPs colorimetric sensor was successfully
used to determine clindamycin in human urine samples. This study provides
a simple, rapid, intuitive, and low-cost visualization analysis method
of clindamycin, which was helpful for the visualization detection
of other targets.