Determination of rifampicin based on fluorescence quenching of GSH capped CdTe/ZnS QDs

Aqueous glutathione (GSH)-capped CdTe/ZnS QDs with the diameter of 3–4 nm were synthesized. The fluorescence of CdTe/ZnS QDs at 577 nm was quenched in the presence of rifampicin (Rfp), with excitation wavelength at 350 nm. The mechanism of the interaction of CdTe/ZnS QDs with Rfp was investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration plot of ln(F0/F) was linear in the range 0.83–56 μg mL−1 with concentration of Rfp, and the detection limit was 0.25 μg mL−1. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Rfp in its commercial capsules, and satisfactory results were obtained. The recovery of the method was in the range 98.6–103.2%.