Highly stable fluorescent probe based on AgCl/Ag@MOFs(Ag) for the selective detection of trace tetracycline antibiotics in milk

AgCl/Ag@MOF(Ag) nanocomposites have been successfully fabricated through a simple and quick one-pot reflux approach for the first time, where AgCl/Ag nanoclusters are stabilized on the sheet-like MOF(Ag) surface. The as-prepared Ag-based MOFs fluorescent probe shows high fluorescence intensity and excellent fluorescence stability for sensing of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) through mechanisms involving inner filter effect (IFE) and static quenching. The experimental results show that the detection concentration ranges for tetracycline (TET), chlortetracycline (CTC), and oxytetracycline (OTC) were 10–80 μM, 10–60 μM, and 10–30 μM, and with the detection limits of 2.59 nM, 1.36 nM, and 1.43 nM, respectively. The high sensitivity and selectivity of the fluorescent probe for TCs offers novel perspectives on utilizing supported MOFs as fluorescent probes for trace TCs detection in food by a fast, simple, and reliable method. Graphical abstract