Novel chloramphenicol sensor based on aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence and nanozyme amplification

Combining electrochemiluminescence (ECL) with nanozyme amplification provides unique advantages for the detection of antibiotic residues. Herein, a molecularly imprinted chloramphenicol (CAP) sensor was established based on aggregation-induced (AI)-ECL and nanozyme amplification. Covalent organic framework materials with AI-ECL groups (COF-AI-ECL) and nanozyme Co3O4 were synthesised as the signal element and the amplification element, respectively. Subsequently, using CAP as a template molecule, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was fabricated on the electrode surface modified with COF-AI-ECL and Co3O4. The ECL signal of COF-AI-ECL was catalytically amplified by Co3O4, whereas CAP effectively quenched this signal. Consequently, the ECL signal was controlled by the elution and adsorption of CAP by the MIP, thus establishing a new method for CAP detection. Unlike traditional ECL reagent, COF-AI-ECL exhibited a stable and strong ECL signal. Therefore, COF-AI-ECL in combination with the MIP provided greater sensitivity and enhanced selectivity. The linear range of the developed CAP sensor was 5 × 10−13 to 4 × 10−10 mol/L, with a detection limit of 1.18 × 10−13 mol/L. Moreover, the recoveries range of 85.0%–106.2% were obtained for the detection of CAP in real honey, milk, and chicken samples, indicating the potential of this sensor design for the detection of trace antibiotic residues in food safety applications.