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Microwave-assisted synthesis of highly luminescent N- and S-co-doped carbon dots as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for levofloxacin

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Abstract

Uniform N- and S-co-doped carbon dots (NSCDs) with fluorescence quantum yields of up to 64% were synthesized via a one-step microwave-assisted method. Ammonium citrate and L-cysteine act as precursors, and synthesis is completed in 2.5 min using a 750 W microwave oven to give a 62% yield. The NSCDs show bright blue fluorescence (with excitation/emission peaks at 353/426 nm) and have narrow size distribution. On exposure to levofloxacin (LEV), the emission maximum shifts to 499 nm. This effect was used to design ratiometric (2-wavelength) assays for LEV. The fluorometric method (based on measurement of the fluorescence intensity ratio at 499 and 426 nm) has a detection limit of 5.1 μg·L−1 (3σ/k) and a linear range that extends from 0.01 to 70 mg·L−1. The method was applied to the determination of LEV in three kinds of spiked water samples and has recoveries in the range from 98.6 to 106.8%. The fluorescent probe described here is highly selective and sensitive.

Highly luminescent N- and S-co-doped carbon dots were synthesized using AC (ammonium citrate) and Cys (L-cysteine) by microwave-assisted method, and were applied to the visual and ratiometric fluorescence determination of LEV (levofloxacin).

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Jilin Province, China (Grant number 20150204070GX).

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Correspondence to Yanhua Chen or Lan Ding.

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Li, H., Xu, Y., Ding, J. et al. Microwave-assisted synthesis of highly luminescent N- and S-co-doped carbon dots as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for levofloxacin. Microchim Acta 185, 104 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2619-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2619-z

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