Development of a MOF-based dual-channel levofloxacin probe and its application in the detection of food and beverage

Food safety issues are becoming increasingly prominent, raising public concern. Antibiotic pollutants, as a unique category, act like a double-edged sword. On one hand, they provide precise treatment for related diseases, but on the other hand, their excessive use or improper handling can lead to environmental contamination or entry into the biological chain. This makes it easy for living organisms to come into contact with and ingest these pollutants, leading to serious consequences. Among these antibiotics, Levofloxacin (LVF), a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, effectively treats various bacterial infections but also causes severe problems due to its misuse. Therefore, developing a simple, fast, and efficient probe for detecting LVF is crucial for environmental protection and human safety. In this study, a novel UiO-66-F₄ fluorescent probe was synthesized. This probe demonstrated dual-channel detection of LVF through its inner filter effect (IFE) and chemical interactions, resulting in a visible color change from colorless to green. It exhibits good linear ranges at the fluorescence peaks of 494 nm (30–68 μM), with a detection limit of 0.1 μM. Based on its excellent detection performance, the probe was further applied for the quantitative determination of LVF in different types of food and beverages samples, yielding satisfactory results with recovery rates ranging from 93.4 % to 114.6 %. This probe offers a reliable means for the detection and evaluation of trace amounts of LVF in food.