Eu3+-functionalized metal organic framework applied as “red-green indicator” for tetracycline

The misuse of antibiotics, such as tetracycline (TC), can seriously harm human health so it is of great practical importance to sensitively and rapidly detect TC. In this paper, an Eu3+-functionalized Zr-MOF (Eu3+@UiO-66-(OH)2) was successfully prepared by a post-synthetic modification strategy as a ratiometric fluorescent sensor for ultrasensitive and specific detection of TC in aqueous medium. The proposed Eu3+@UiO-66-(OH)2 sensor possessed remarkable fluorescence enhancement properties besides high specific surface area and excellent stability. In the quantitative analysis of TC, the sensor exhibited fast response (<60 s), wide linear range (0–160 μM), high sensitivity (detection limit as low as 1.33 nM) and high selectivity for TC. Furthermore, it has been successfully utilized in determination of TC in real samples, demonstrating its application potential in complex environmental water system.