Novel dummy molecularly imprinted polymers for matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction of eight fluoroquinolones from fish samples

• Highly class-selective DMIPs for FQs prepared by using daidzein as a non-poisonous dummy template.
• Simultaneous determination of eight FQs from fish samples using the developed DMI-MSPD-HPLC-FLD method.
• Highly selective and sensitive method with good recovery and precision.

A series of novel dummy molecularly imprinted polymers (DMIPs) were prepared as highly class-selective sorbents for fluoroquinolones. A non-poisonous dummy template, daidzein, was used for the first time to create specific molecular recognition sites for fluoroquinolones in the synthesized polymers. The influence of porogen polarity on dummy molecular imprinting effect was studied. The DMIP prepared using dimethylsulfoxide−acetonitrile (1:1.8, v/v) as porogen achieved the highest imprinting factors (IF) for fluoroquinolones over a range of IF 13.4–84.0. This DMIP was then used for selective extraction of eight fluoroquinolones (fleroxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, enrofloxacin and gatifloxacin) from fish samples based on dummy molecularly imprinted matrix solid-phase dispersion (DMI-MSPD). The extracted fluoroquinolones were subsequently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a fluorescence detector (FLD). The developed method had acceptable recoveries (64.4−102.7%) and precision (RSDs: 1.7−8.5%, n = 5) for determination of fluoroquinolones in fish samples fortified at levels of 10 and 100 ng g−1. The limits of detection (LODs) for identification of eight fluoroquinolones ranged between 0.06 and 0.22 ng g−1. The results demonstrated great potential of the optimized method for sample preparation in routine analysis of trace fluoroquinolones in fish samples.