Sensitive and selective simultaneous detection of ampicillin and chloramphenicol in foods with a SERS-activated molecularly imprinted capillary sensor.

The specific identification and effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of multiple antibiotic residues in food samples remain challenging due to the interference of complex matrices and the low concentrations of the target analytes. Herein, we develop a novel sensor (SERS-CP-MI) that integrates SERS with molecular imprinting technology for sensitive and selective simultaneous detection of ampicillin (AMP) and chloramphenicol (CAP). The SERS-activated capillary (SERS-CP) utilizes capillary as carriers for plasmonic nanoparticles (Ag NPs) serving as recognition unit, where the modification of Ag NPs on the inner wall of the capillaries significantly enhances sensitivity. Meanwhile, the dual-template imprinted polymer (TMIP) was synthesized as capture unit through bulk polymerization and surface imprinting, forming specific cavities for simultaneous detection of AMP and CAP. The proposed method was successfully applied to chicken and milk samples, demonstrating that the SERS-CP-MI sensor is a reliable and effective tool for detecting antibiotic residues in food samples.