Fluorometric determination of ciprofloxacin using molecularly imprinted polymer and polystyrene microparticles doped with europium(III)(DBM)phen.

The authors describe a microparticle-based system for the detection of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The method is using the tris(dibenzoylmethane)(1,10-phenanthroline)europium(III) luminophore in polystyrene microparticles along with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for ciprofloxacin. If ciprofloxacin is captured by the MIP, it quenches the fluorescence of the luminophores. Fluorescence drops linearly in the 0.5-100 μg L ciprofloxacin concentration range, and the detection limit is 92 ng L. The method was applied to the analysis of fish samples to assess the analytical performance of the probe. Recoveries ranged from 85.4 to 86.6%, and relative standard deviations between 2.1 and 3.9% (for n = 5). Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a microparticle-based probe using the tris(dibenzoylmethane)(1,10-phenanthroline)europium(III) luminophore in polystyrene particles along with a molecularly imprinted polymer for ciprofloxacin. After removal of template, carboxylic groups left in the probe can bind to ciprofloxacin through hydrogen bonds.