A sensitive and selective approach for detection of tetracyclines using fluorescent molybdenum disulfide nanoplates

The wide use of tetracyclines (TCs) for prevention and therapy of animal diseases may result in excessive residues in animal products, which could pose serious risks to human health. A novel molybdenum disulfide nanoplates (MoS2 NPs)-based fluorescent sensor for tetracycline (TET) is reported. The MoS2 NPs, synthesized via a facile bottom-up hydrothermal route, showed blue fluorescence at 430 nm in aqueous solution. Interestingly, its fluorescence was quenched significantly upon addition of TET, which is mainly due to a combination of the inner filter effect and electron transfer. Thus, the MoS2 NPs based fluorescence sensor was delineated for the detection of TET. The methodology here presented showed a low detection limit of 0.032 μM and satisfied recoveries from 88.46% to 108.62% in spiked milk, milk powder and bovine muscle samples.