Chemometric-assisted kinetic determination of oxytetracycline using AgInS2 quantum dots as PL sensing platforms

In this work a kinetic fluorometric methodology relying on the time-based monitoring of the photoluminescence quenching of AgInS2 ternary quantum dots induced by oxytetracycline, was developed. The kinetic approach allowed not only to reduce the LOD and improve sensitivity and selectivity but also to collect second-order data that was explored for the quantification of the target analyte in the presence of uncalibrated interfering species. Upon processing the acquired second-order kinetic PL data by unfolded partial least-squares (U-PLS), oxytetracycline was quantified in commercially available pharmaceutical formulations. The obtained results, namely an R2P higher than 0.99 and RE lower than 8%, proved the suitability and accuracy of the developed approach. [Display omitted] •The kinetic behavior of the PL quenching of AIS QDs in the presence of OTC was studied.•Chemometric methods were implemented to improve the performance of the OTC kinetic determination.•U-PLS/RBL was applied to obtain second-order advantage circumventing selectivity issues.•Kinetic approach resorting to chemometric tools allowed to reduce the LOD with enhanced sensitivity.•The developed methodology was successfully applied in OTC monitoring in pharmaceutical formulations.