Dyestuff chemistry auxiliary instant immune-network label strategy for immunochromatographic detection of chloramphenicol

Commercial immunochromatographic assay (ICA) is a convenient tool for controlling antibiotic abuse. Although great efforts have been made to improve the detection performance and quantitative capabilities, simplify the manufacturing process of commercial ICA is rarely mentioned. Here, a proof-of-principle work are developed to solve the above problem. Inspired by dyestuff chemistry, we developed an instant immune-network label strategy by dynamic protonation capacity of neutral red (NR), achieving a desirable labeling efficiency (＜1min), and applying for ICA detection of chloramphenicol (CAP). Benefits from the efficiently protonation of NR, lengthy probe production time and organic reagents can be avoided, displaying excellent strip production efficiency and detection performance. Eventually, this strategy presents a visual limit of detection (vLOD) at 3 ng/mL, cut-off value is 9 ng/mL. The assay recoveries in milk and honey were 74.45-107.15 %, with the total RSD of 1.62-6.90 %. We envision that this strategy raises the possibility of commercializing of laboratory prototype products.