Simple and Sensitive Photoluminescent Detection of Meropenem Using Cit-Capped CdS Quantum Dots as a Fluorescence Probe

We have developed water soluble CdS quantum dot (QD) probes for detection of meropenem by using safe and low cost materials. The citrate (Cit) capped CdS QDs are highly stable in aqueous solution and applied for selective and ultrasensitive meropenem (MPN) sensing. The fluorescence intensities of CdS QDs were decreased linearly with increasing MPN in the wide range of 6 × 10-10-2.1 × 10-3 M. The limit of detection for meropenem determination was 0.5 nM. There was no significant wavelength shift on the fluorescence-quenched signals in the presence of the drug. The effect of common foreign ions and drugs on the fluorescence of the QDs was studied to evaluate the selectivity, and the results showed a high selectivity of the Cit capped CdS QDs towards MPN. The validity of this method was confirmed by high performance chromatography method (HPLC). The method presented here is simple, rapid, low cost, sensitive, inexpensive and suitable for practical applications.