The synthesis of N‐doped carbon dots for visual differentiating and detection of tetracyclines

Abstract

N-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized from L-glutamine and triethanolamine using a one-step hydrothermal method. The N-CDs emitting blue fluorescence had selective responses to tetracyclines (TCs) and could be used as a fluorescent probe to realize the quantitative detection and qualitative analysis of TCs. A method for the determination of TCs using the N-CDs in actual samples was successfully established. The recovery rate was maintained at 97.50-105.60%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 3%. In addition, TCs can be visually distinguished using filter paper by the different fluorescence colours (light green, dark blue, and yellow-green) of the N-CDs/TCs system under ultraviolet light. This study provides a relatively simple method to detect and identify TCs.fluorescent probe, N-doped carbon dots, tetracyclines | INTRODUCTIONTetracyclines (TCs), mainly including tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and oxytetracycline (OTC), are commonly used as a disease-preventive medicine and feed additive in animal husbandry and aquaculture. [1,2] However, the long-term abuse of TCs has caused extensive drug residues in the environment that may endanger human health. Many studies have shown that the excessive intake of TCs can