Synthesis of fluorescent probe based on molecularly imprinted polymers on nitrogen-doped carbon dots for determination of tobramycin in milk

Tobramycin (TOB) plays a considerable role in combating milk spoilage and preventing disease in dairy cows. However, overuse of TOB can lead to nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, neuromuscular blockade, and hypersensitivity reactions. Here, nitrogen-doped carbon dots ( N -CDs) were prepared with ethylenediamine and citric acid, then molecularly imprinted layers were obtained by imprinting of surface on the N -CDs to prepare Nitrogen-doped carbon dot-based molecularly imprinted polymers ( N -CDs@MIPs). The fluorescence emission spectrum of this probe showed a linear enhancement with the TOB concentration in the 1–12 μM. Meanwhile, a detection limit of 99.2 nM was obtained. This probe was not affected by the structural analogs of the TOB and can show high sensitivity and selectivity compared to non-imprinted polymers ( N -CDs@NIPs). Therefore, it can be successfully used for the trace analysis of TOB in milk with advantages over other reported techniques such as liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry or various aptamer sensors.