In
this study, cellulose filter paper (CFP) was used
to create
three-dimensional ZnO nanoflowers coated with three-layered plasmonic
metals (Ag@Au@Ag) by using an in situ generated method. The substrate
was created as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) paper chip
with dual functions for quick enrichment and ultrasensitive antibiotic
detection. It was possible to detect amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and
tetracycline quantitatively with good linear responses at low detection
limits of 1, 10, and 10 nM, respectively, thanks to the characteristics
of three-dimensional nanostructures, the charge transfer effect of
ZnO–plasmonic metal, and electromagnetic coupling of Ag@Au@Ag.
Even with a paper chip and a mobile phone–Raman spectrometer
integrated system, it was possible to identify human urine antibiotics
at ppb levels with high accuracy. Meanwhile, 10 min detection of the
antibiotics was accomplished by merely soaking them in their analyte
solutions due to CFP wicking. With the help of PCA-LDA analysis, the
multiplexed SERS spectral data of the three antibiotics could be successfully
separated. Additionally, the paper chip’s exceptional mechanical
endurance even against 30-fold and strong ultrasonication was made
possible by the in situ growing method. The bifunctional, affordable,
and long-lasting SERS paper chip has a lot of potential for on-site
and point-of-care drug detection.