Levofloxacin molecularly imprinted two dimensional photonic crystal hydrogel sensor

A novel levofloxacin (LVFX) molecularly imprinted two dimensional (2D) photonic crystal hydrogels (LVFX-MIPCH) sensor has been developed, which could be used for the visual monitoring of LVFX. The response performance of the MIPCH sensor would be explored by measuring the diameter of the Debye diffraction ring. In the presence of LVFX, the hydrogel volume shrinks, leads to the particle spacing of photonic crystal in the gel decreases, thus causes the diameter of the Debye diffraction ring increases. As the concentration of LVFX in the solution increases from 0 to 10−12 M, the diameter of the Debye diffraction ring increases by 2.5 mm, and the corresponding particle spacing of photonic crystal decreases by 3.16 nm. Then, with the concentration continues to increase to 10−3 M, the diameter of the Debye diffraction ring increases by 10.0 mm, and the corresponding particle spacing decreases by 32 nm. A linear relationship between the change of particle spacing of photonic crystal (Δd) and the logarithm value of the LVFX concentration (lg c) in the range from 10−10 to 10−4 M. Besides, the diffraction peak wavelength of the sensor gradually blue-shifted, consistent with the sensor color change(from orange to blue) by naked eye. Besides, The LVFX-MIPCH sensor showed high sensitivity(as low as 10−12 M), excellent specific recognition and stable reusability. [Display omitted] •Levofloxacin molecularly imprinted two dimensional photonic crystal hydrogel sensor was successfully prepared.•By measuring the Debye ring diameter to explore the response performance of the sensor.•In the presence of LVFX, the hydrogel volume shrinks, the particle spacing decreases, the diameter increases.•The diffraction peak wavelength of the sensor blue-shifted while the sensor color changed by naked eye.•The change of particle spacing is linear to the logarithm of LVFX, and the LOD is 10−12 M.