The discrimination between phospholipids of diverse structure and phosphacoumarins of various hydrophobicity through fluorescent response of Tb-doped silica nanoparticles decorated by cationic surfactant

► Substrate responsive colloids based on silica coated Tb(III) complexes. ► Interfacial displacement of quenching anions by substrates induces fluorescent response of SNs. ► The hydrophobicity of anionic substrates guides the selectivity of fluorescent response. ► Anionic phospholipids provide fluorescent response with detection limit being 0.008 g L−1. ► Anionic impurities in phosphatidylcholine can be detected by fluorescent response.