A carbon dot anchored bacterial cellulose hybrid platform as a fluorescent sensor and photocatalytic remover of pharmaceuticals

Abstract

In the present work, a one arrow two hawk approach was implemented to enable fluorometric trace level detection as well as photocatalytic remediation of antibiotic drugs tetracycline (TET) and doxycycline (DOX) using an M-CD and encapsulated bacterial cellulose (M-CDs@BC) luminescent hydrogel composite synthesized via a single-step one-pot hydrothermal method. The M-CDs showed a wide linear range, and good sensitivity with lower limits of detection (LOD) of 133 nM and 138 nM for TET and DOX, respectively. Encouraged by the remarkable fluorescence (FL) characteristics of M-CD@BC, the solid phase hydrogel platform was utilized to detect the concentration of TET and DOX in a sequential manner for the first time. The M-CDs@BC composite showed excellent sensing ability and selectivity towards TET and DOX, among other available antibiotics. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of the M-CDs is found to be preserved in M-CDs@BC as well and played an effective role in the photodegradation of both TET and DOX (70.3% and 64.0%, respectively). Furthermore, the present M-CDs@BC hydrogels display high cycling performance for recurrent usage. Overall, the present work paves the way for the generation of unique CD composites for environmental remediation. © 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.