Simultaneous detection of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in milk using a bias potentials controlling-based photoelectrochemical aptasensor

It is important to develop highly-active photoelectrochemical (PEC) materials and use novel sensing strategy for constructing high-PEC-performance sensors with multiplex detection abilities, owing to the simultaneous presence of multiple antibiotic residues in food. Herein, a bias-potential-based PEC aptasensor was prepared for the trace detection of dual antibiotic analytes, enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), which often coexist in milk samples. Here, two materials were developed with excellent PEC performance: three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene-loaded copper indium disulfide (CuInS2/3DNG) and Bi3+-doped black anatase titania nanoparticles decorated with reduced graphene oxide (Bi3+/B-TiO2/rGO). By applying different bias potentials to the two materials near one ITO electrode, the cathodic current generated by CuInS2/3DNH and the anodic current generated by Bi3+/B-TiO2/rGO could be clearly distinguished without interfering with each other. Then, ENR and CIP aptamers were respectively modified onto the surface of CuInS2/3DNH and Bi3+/B-TiO2/rGO to construct a PEC aptasensor for the sensitive detection of ENR and CIP. Under optimal conditions, the proposed aptasensor exhibited wide linear ranges of ENR (0.01–10000 ng/mL) and CIP (0.01–1000 ng/mL), and relatively low detection limits of 3.3 pg/mL to ENR and CIP (S/N = 3). The aptasensor was successfully applied to the detection of ENR and CIP in milk samples. [Display omitted] •The PEC aptasensor possessed simultaneous detection ability to ENR and CIP.•Synthesized CuInS2/3DNG and Bi3+/B-TiO2/rGO exhibited excellent PEC activity.•Bias potential controlling strategy was employed to construct PEC aptasensor.•The aptasensor exhibited wide linear ranges and low detection limits.•This PEC method could accurately detect ENR and CIP in milk samples.