Integration of silicon nanodots and rare earth functionalized amino clay for intelligent colorful assessment of tetracycline

[Display omitted] •An innovative multi-color fluorescent nanosensor was elaborately tailored.•Silicon nanodots and rare earth functionalized amino clay were integrated.•It can achieve TC assessment in both low and high concentrations.•Visualized assay of wearable gloved nanosensor on TC was realized. The development of sensing materials for highly sensitive detection, accurate analysis, and rapid identification of antibiotic residues in a wide concentration range is critical for food safety and human health. In this study, a nanosensor was constructed by integrating biocompatible silicon nanoparticles (B-SiNPs), amino clay (AC), and rare earth europium ions (Eu3+) to achieve rapid visual recognition of tetracycline by using colorful fluorescence changes. The nanosensor, with an ultra-low detection limit (2.28 nM) in a wide range of analyte concentrations (0–70 μΜ), met the analysis needs of various food samples. The rapid naked-eye visual detection of tetracycline can be realized by using the change of fluorescence color from blue to red and then to green. In addition, visual analysis devices based on paper and glove were designed, and the real-time and fast visual intelligent assay of tetracycline in samples was realized through the APP of color acquisition and calculation analysis on smartphones, which expanded the application of multicolor fluorescent nanosensors in the field of intelligent devices.