Sensitive Aptamer SERS and RRS Assays for Trace Oxytetracycline Based on the Catalytic Amplification of CuNCs

Abstract

A new method for the determination of oxytetracycline (OTC) has been established by coupling the catalytic amplification reaction of copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) with the aptamer reaction. CuNCs prepared by a wet chemical method have the catalytic activity for the formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) resulting from a HAuCl4-ethanol (En) reaction. The experimental results showed that OTC aptamer (Apt) can be adsorbed on the surface of CuNCs in a non-specific way, thus inhibiting its catalytic activity. When OTC was added to the solution, the OTC-Apt complex was generated by a specific reaction, which made the CuNCs desorb and restore their catalytic activity. With the increase of OTC, the recovery of the catalytic activity of CuNCs is strengthened, the reaction speed is accelerated, and the number of AuNPs is increased. The generated AuNPs exhibited surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals at 1615 cm−1 in the presence of Vitoria blue 4R (VB4R) molecular probes, and a resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) peak at 586 nm. There is a good linear relationship between the intensities of SERS, or RRS, and OTC concentration at the range of 37.5–300 ng/L or 37.5–225 ng/L, respectively. A new SERS and RRS assay for the determination of trace OTC based on the regulation of CuNCs catalysis was established.