Multi-color quantum dot-based fluorescence immunoassay array for simultaneous visual detection of multiple antibiotic residues in milk

• A new strategy of multicolor QD-based fluorescence immunoassay arrays was developed.
• The strategy could achieve visual and high-throughput analysis of multiple antibiotics.
• The strategy could provide rapid and specific assay for residues of three antibiotics.
• The strategy provided low detection limit of 5 fg/mL for analysis of target antibiotic.

Antibiotic residues, which are among the most common contaminants in animal-based food products such as milk, have become a significant public health concern. Here, we combine a multicolor quantum dot (QD)-based immunofluorescence assay and an array analysis method to achieve simultaneous, sensitive and visual detection of streptomycin (SM), tetracycline (TC), and penicillin G (PC-G) in milk. Antibodies (Abs) for SM, TC and PC-G were conjugated to QDs with different emission wavelengths (QD520 nm, QD565 nm and QD610 nm) to serve as detection probes (QD-Ab). Then a direct competitive fluorescent immunoassay was performed in antigen-coated microtiter plate wells for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative detection of SM, TC, and PC-G residues, based on fluorescence of the QD-Ab probes. The linear ranges for SM, TC and PC-G were 0.01–25 ng/mL, 0.01–25 ng/mL and 0.01–10 ng/mL, respectively, with detection limit of 5 pg/mL for each of them. Based on fluorescence of the QD-Ab probes, residues of the three antibiotics were determined visually and simultaneously. Compared with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, our method could achieve simultaneous analysis of multiple target antibiotics in multiple samples in a single run (high-throughput analysis) and improved accuracy and sensitivity for analysis of residues of the three antibiotics in authentic milk samples. This new analytical tool can play an important role in ameliorating the negative impact of the residual antibiotics on human health and the ecosystem.