Construction of graphene quantum dots ratiometric fluorescent probe by intermolecular electron transfer effect for intelligent and real-time visual detection of ofloxacin and its L-isomer in daily drink.

ABSTRACT

The design of intelligent and real-time sensing devices is significant in the medical drug monitoring field, but it is still highly challenging. Here, ratiometric fluorescent detections of ofloxacin (OFL) and its L-isomer levofloxacin (LEV) constructed from tri-doped graphene quantum dots (T-GQDs) are reported, and the detection limits reach as low as 46/67 nM toward OFL/LEV due to the intermolecular electron transfer (intermolecular ET) effect. After adding OFL/LEV, the generation of electrostatic bond provides a channel for the intermolecular ET from the edge of T-GQDs to OFL/LEV, resulting in the fluorescence quenching at 414 nm and the fluorescence promoting at 498 nm. Furthermore, a smartphone can be used for the visual and quantitative detection of OFL and LEV by identifying the RGB values of test paper and drink samples. This work not only reveals the physics mechanism of ratiometric detection, but also develops a convenient smartphone diagnostic for OFL and LEV.