Dual-Porosity Cationic Conjugated Microporous Polymer for Efficient Solid-Phase Extraction of Quinolone Antibiotics from Environmental Water and Meat Samples:Insights from Experimental and Density-Functional Theory Study

Abstract

The advancement of highly sensitive analytical methodologies for the surveillance of quinolone antibiotics (QAs) residues holds utmost significance in safeguarding both ecosystems and human health. In this study, a novel cationic conjugated microporous polymer (CMP-I) was constructed through a facile post-synthetic approach. Capitalizing on its unique dual-porosity architecture, cationic framework, and π-conjugated backbone, CMP-I exhibited exceptional adsorption capabilities and remarkable repeatability. Integrating with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method founded on CMP-I was meticulously developed for the sensitive and accurate detection of QAs within complex matrices. This proposed analytical method demonstrated impressively low limits of detection (0.02-0.12 ng·L-1 for water samples, 0.03-0.12 ng·g-1 for meat samples) and good accuracy (70.9%-114.9%). The underlying adsorption mechanism was comprehensively explored through a synergistic approach involving systematic adsorption experiments, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and in-depth material characterizations. Overall, this study proffers viable strategies for the meticulous trace-level analysis of QAs in complex environmental and food samples.

Keywords: Quinolone antibiotics, Water and meat samples, Cationic conjugated microporous polymer, Solid-phase extraction, Adsorption mechanism