A “turn-on” fluorescent sensor for the selective detection of erythromycin in aqueous solution

Abstract

The accurate and rapid detection of erythromycin (ERY) is of great significance to environmental protection and human health. Herein, a “turn-on” fluorescent sensor was developed for the quantitative detection of ERY in aqueous solution. The probe Cu-BDC-NH₂ exhibits weak blue emission due to the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) effect. Upon the addition of ERY, the fluorescence intensity increases by 436%, whereas other similar antibiotics lead to fluorescence quenching. The sensing mechanisms were thoroughly investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, fluorescence lifetime measurements, UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Owing to the excellent selectivity and sensitivity, test strips based on the probe were further prepared to evaluate the practical applicability in real samples.