Issue 5, 2023

Magnetic Fe–N–C nanoparticles as a dual nanozyme for label-free colorimetric detection of antibiotics

Abstract

In this study, we report a simple pyrolytic strategy for N–C co-doped Fe-based nanoparticles (Fe–N–C) and exhibit their oxidase-mimicking and peroxidase-mimicking activity in a chromogenic reaction with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride (TMB) as a substrate. Structural analysis revealed that Fe–NX and Fe3C structures were formed with Fe-Imace coordination compounds as precursors and melamine as the nitrogen source, which provided abundant active sites for the Fe–N–C nanozyme. Interestingly, owing to the blocking effect triggered by π–π stacking between the tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) tetraphenyl skeleton and Fe–N–C, the substrate affinity of the Fe–N–C was significantly blocked, resulting in the solution fading. Under the optimum conditions, the UV absorption intensity versus the concentration of TCs was found to be linear over the range of 0.08–90 μM for tetracycline (TC), 0.1–80 μM for chlortetracycline (CTC) and 0.09–100 μM for oxytetracycline (OTC). The detection limits were 62 nM for TC, 85 nM for CTC and 88 nM for OTC. The Fe–N–C displayed good storage and long-term stability when stored at 4 °C for 30 days. In addition, based on its superparamagnetism, Fe–N–C can be effectively recycled and reused through an external magnetic field, avoiding secondary pollution.

Graphical abstract: Magnetic Fe–N–C nanoparticles as a dual nanozyme for label-free colorimetric detection of antibiotics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 dec 2022
Accepted
22 mar 2023
First published
23 mar 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Adv., 2023,2, 731-739

Magnetic Fe–N–C nanoparticles as a dual nanozyme for label-free colorimetric detection of antibiotics

W. Wen, Y. Liu, Z. Li, G. Wen, H. Li and L. Li, Environ. Sci.: Adv., 2023, 2, 731 DOI: 10.1039/D2VA00319H

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