Synergistic InSe quantum dots–mesoporous Ta2O5 nanostructure for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of antibiotics in environmental samples

Antibiotic contamination in water resources threatens ecosystems and public health, demanding sensitive and practical monitoring methods. We present an electrochemical sensor based on indium selenide (InSe) quantum dots integrated with mesoporous tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5), forming a synergistic nanostructure with high electrocatalytic activity. The platform enables ultrasensitive detection of antibiotics such as tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin, achieving a detection limit of ∼2.5 × 10−11 M. The large surface area of Ta2O5 facilitates analyte diffusion, while InSe QDs enhance charge transfer, together ensuring excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility (RSD <2%). The sensor retains stability over 30 days and demonstrates recovery rates above 92% in tap, river, and wastewater samples. Offering simplicity and low cost compared to conventional analytical methods, this nanocomposite electrode provides a robust and scalable solution for real-time environmental monitoring of antibiotic pollutants.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  RSC Advances

• Publication date

  2025-10-31

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Chemistry, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1039/d5ra06344bPMID 41189801PMCID 12581135
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Antibiotics disrupt bacteria–phytoplankton symbioses: unveiling ecological risks in aquatic ecosystems

  2025influential reference
• Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella Circulation in the Human Population in Campania Region (2010–2023)

  2025cited by this paper
• Antibiotic Residues in Animal Products from Some African Countries and Their Possible Impact on Human Health

  2025cited by this paper
• Advanced iridium catalysts on multi-porous tantalum oxide supports for efficient proton exchange membrane water electrolysis

  2025cited by this paper
• Unleashing the power of receptor-based assay on high-throughput detection: Assessing the feasibility of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on large-scale antibiotic monitoring

  2025cited by this paper
• Review: Fate and Ecological Effects of Antibiotic Mixtures in Agricultural Environments

  2025cited by this paper
• The role of nanodimensions in enhancing electrochemical sensing: A comprehensive review

  2024cited by this paper
• Iron-based electrode material composites for electrochemical sensor application in the environment: A review.

  2024cited by this paper
• Electrochemical Sensors for Antibiotic Detection: A Focused Review with a Brief Overview of Commercial Technologies

  2024cited by this paper
• Organic suspension droplet solid-phase dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of antibiotic residues in water samples

  2024cited by this paper
• Antibiotic residue contamination in the aquatic environment, sources and associated potential health risks

  2024cited by this paper
• Emergence of antibiotic resistance due to the excessive use of antibiotics in medicines and feed additives: A global scenario with emphasis on the Indian perspective

  2024cited by this paper
• Recent Advancement in Quantum Dot Modified Layered Double Hydroxide towards Photocatalytic, Electrocatalytic, and Photoelectrochemical Applications

  2024cited by this paper
• A Review on Recent Trends and Future Developments in Electrochemical Sensing

  2024cited by this paper
• Hybrid Nanomaterials: A Brief Overview of Versatile Solutions for Sensor Technology in Healthcare and Environmental Applications

  2024cited by this paper
• Multishell Silver Indium Selenide-Based Quantum Dots and Their Poly(methyl methacrylate) Composites for Application in Red-Light-Emitting Diodes

  2024cited by this paper
• Effect of Ta2O5 nanoparticles on bioactivity, composition, structure, in vitro and in vivo behavior of PEO coatings on Mg-alloy

  2024cited by this paper
• Prospects of polymer Nanocomposite-Based electrochemical sensors as analytical devices for environmental Monitoring: A review

  2024cited by this paper
• Electrochemical Sensors for Heavy Metal Ion Detection in Aqueous Medium: A Systematic Review

  2024cited by this paper
• Sensitive enzyme-free electrochemical sensors for the detection of pesticide residues in food and water

  2024cited by this paper
• Electrochemical sensing mechanisms of neonicotinoid pesticides and recent progress in utilizing functional materials for electrochemical detection platforms.

  2024cited by this paper
• Highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for the determination of chloramphenicol

  2024cited by this paper
• From Synthesis to Application in Infrared Photodetectors: A Review of InSb Colloidal Quantum Dots

  2024influential reference
• Synthesis of polycrystalline Ta₂O₅ inverse opal photonic crystal powders and their optical characterization

  2024cited by this paper
• Unraveling Quantum Mysteries: Probing the Interplay of CdS Quantum Dots and g-C3N4 Nanosheets for Enhanced Photo/Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

  2023cited by this paper
• Lasing by Template‐Assisted Self‐Assembled Quantum Dots

  2023cited by this paper
• Highly sensitive detection of tetracycline by electrochemical molecular imprinting

  2023influential reference
• The spread of antibiotic resistance to humans and potential protection strategies.

  2023cited by this paper
• A New Approach for Electrochemical Sensing of a Wildly Used Antibiotic; Ciprofloxacin

  2023cited by this paper
• Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based sensors for exogenous contaminants in food: Mechanisms, advances, and prospects

  2023cited by this paper
• Indirect Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Based on Broad-Spectrum Antibody for Simultaneous Determination of Thirteen Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics in Rana catesbeianus

  2023cited by this paper
• Two-Dimensional High-Performance Liquid Chromatography as a Powerful Tool for Bioanalysis: The Paradigm of Antibiotics

  2023cited by this paper
• Scalable graphene sensor array for real-time toxins monitoring in flowing water

  2023cited by this paper
• Building in biologically appropriate multifunctionality in aqueous copper indium selenide-based quantum dots.

  2023cited by this paper
• Occurrence, environmental impact and fate of pharmaceuticals in groundwater and surface water: a critical review

  2023cited by this paper
• Surface Engineering of MXene Quantum Dots for the Designing of Optical Metal Sensors

  2023cited by this paper
• Optimization of a solid phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography and diode array ultraviolet detection method for monitoring of different antibiotic classes residues in water samples.

  2023cited by this paper
• Optimization of antibiotic analysis in leafy vegetables by simple solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

  2023cited by this paper
• Synthesis of ZnO@TiO2 nanoparticles and its application to construct an electrochemical sensor for determination of hydrazine

  2023cited by this paper
• One-pot synthesis of phosphine-free indium selenide (InSe) QDs and their structural characterization for LPG and humidity sensing

  2022cited by this paper
• Colloidal Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Composition, Structure, and Emerging Optoelectronic Applications

  2022cited by this paper
• Experimental Design Assisted HPLC/UV and LC-MS/MS for Simultaneous Determination of Selected Veterinary Antibiotics in Broiler Chicken

  2022cited by this paper
• Nanostructured Materials Based Optical and Electrochemical Detection of Amoxicillin Antibiotic.

  2022cited by this paper
• A recent advancement on the applications of nanomaterials in electrochemical sensors and biosensors.

  2022cited by this paper
• Antimicrobial Resistance and Its Spread Is a Global Threat

  2022cited by this paper
• Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on carbon graphite and its application as a highly efficient electrochemical nano-sensor for the detection of amoxicillin:analytical application: milk, human urine, and tap water

  2021cited by this paper
• Determination of residues of pesticides, anabolic steroids, antibiotics, and antibacterial compounds in meat products in Oman by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

  2021cited by this paper
• A new electrochemical platform based on low cost nanomaterials for sensitive detection of the amoxicillin antibiotic in different matrices.

  2020cited by this paper
• Electrochemical sensing of ciprofloxacin and paracetamol in environmental water using titanium sol based sensor

  2020cited by this paper
• Development and validation of voltammetric method for determination of amoxicillin in river water.

  2020cited by this paper
• Molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensor for electrochemical detection of erythromycin.

  2020influential reference
• Template-Assisted Electrochemical Synthesis of CdSe Quantum Dots—Polypyrrole Composite Nanorods

  2020cited by this paper
• Electrochemical determination of erythromycin in drinking water resources by surface modified screen-printed carbon electrodes

  2019influential reference
• Screen Printed Electrode Based Detection Systems for the Antibiotic Amoxicillin in Aqueous Samples Utilising Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Synthetic Receptors

  2019cited by this paper
• In-situ generated molecularly imprinted material for chloramphenicol electrochemical sensing in waters down to the nanomolar level

  2018influential reference
• Multianalyte Antibiotic Detection on an Electrochemical Microfluidic Platform.

  2016cited by this paper
• Selective Electrochemical Detection of Ciprofloxacin with a Porous Nafion/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composite Film Electrode.

  2016cited by this paper
• Reporting Physisorption Data for Gas/Solid Systems

  2008cited by this paper
• Determination of the persistence of tetracycline antibiotics and their degradates in manure-amended soil using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

  2005cited by this paper
• Reporting physisorption data for gas/solid systems with special reference to the determination of surface area and porosity (Provisional)

  1982cited by this paper
• Novel Fe-based metal–organic framework (MOF) modified carbon nanofiber as a highly selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor for tetracycline detection

  year unknowninfluential reference

• No citing papers are available for this paper.