Devices and methods using fluorescent polymers in solid phase extraction

摘要

A method of detecting the presence of an analyte comprises the steps of:i) Providing a solid-phase extraction (SPE) carrier loaded with a fluorescent polymer, the polymer having functional monomers for binding the analyte;ii) Applying the analyte to the fluorescent polymer; andiii) Detecting fluorescence quenching resulting from adsorption of the analyte onto the polymer.The fluorescent polymer may comprise Fluorescent Indicator Green 254nm or acenaphthylene; it may comprise itaconic acid or DEAEM as functional monomers, EGDMA as cross-linker and I J -azobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile) as initiator. The fluorescent polymer may absorb analytes such as tylosin, chloramphenicol, Sudan II, Sudan III, ATP, acenaphthylene or DCABE, resulting in a quench in fluorescence. The method may be useful to detect mycotoxin contaminants in food and feeds. Alternatively, an apparatus comprises an SPE carrier loaded with a polymer, the polymer having functional monomers for binding an analyte, wherein the polymer is fluorescent such that, in use, analyte binding quenches fluorescence of the polymer.