Sensitive SERS-MIP sensor based on flexible amino-PVC membrane loaded with ag NPs for specific detection of ciprofloxacin

Antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of various diseases in humans and animals, and the detection of metabolic residual antibiotics has become an important research task. Flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates are in great demand for sensitivity and specificity detection of antibiotics. Herein, we constructed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering-molecular imprinting polymer sensor (SERS-MIP) consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane loaded with silver nanoparticles and molecular imprinting layer. The surface of PVC was aminated by nucleophilic substitution reaction as a carrier for the formation of silver nanoparticle. The molecular imprinting method of atom transfer-electron transfer radical polymerization was used to realize the controlled growth of polymer for constructing SERS-MIP sensor, and its detection capability for ciprofloxacin reached 10 −9  M. Simultaneously, the stability, uniformity, reusability, and selectivity of the sensor all showed good performance. The characteristic peaks of ciprofloxacin were still visible in the mixed solution with other interferents. The results indicated that SERS-MIP sensor could realize sensitivity and specificity detection in complex environment.