A smartphone-integrated ratiometric fluorescence sensing platform for visual and quantitative point-of-care testing of tetracycline

A smartphone-integrated ratiometric fluorescent sensing system (DPA-Ce-GMP-Eu) for visual and point-of-care testing (POCT) of tetracycline with high sensitivity and accuracy was developed. The blue fluorescence of DPA-Ce-GMP was changed into red by doping with Eu3+ duo to the energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu3+. Upon exposure to tetracycline, coordination between Eu3+ and tetracycline blocks energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu3+, converting the fluorescent color from red to blue. The tetracycline detection can be realized within a wide concentration range from 0.01 μM to 45 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) reaches as low as 6.6 nM. To realize quantitative point-of-care detection in real samples, a portable device with smartphone as signal reader and analyzer is further designed to integrate with the DPA-Ce-GMP-Eu sensing platform. The Color Picker APP installed in the smartphone can convert the Red, Green and Blue (RGB) channels of the fluorescence images into digital values. With milk as real sample, tetracycline can be on-site detected with LOD of 10.8 nM. This developed platform presents a great promise for POCT in practical application with merits of low cost, easy carry, simple operation, and excellent selectivity and repeatability.