A novel molecularly imprinted 3D COF-based magnetic solid-phase extraction combined with UHPLC-MS/MS to detect trace residues of acyclovir, penciclovir and ganciclovir in animal-derived food.

The residues of antiviral drugs acyclovir (ACV), penciclovir (PCV) and ganciclovir (GCV) in foods, particularly in ready-to-eat products, pose a significant threat to human health, making it urgent to develop a rapid and sensitive method for their detection. Herein, we designed a novel magnetic molecularly imprinted three-dimensional covalent organic framework (MICOF@Fe3O4) for selective extraction of these antiviral drugs from complicated food matrix. The prepared MICOF@Fe3O4 integrates molecular recognition ability, 3D COF structural advantages and magnetic responsiveness, providing high selectivity, large adsorption capacity and facile operation for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). Afterwards, a MSPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed, which stands out as the most sensitive approach yet for ACV, PCV, GCV measurements and has been successfully applied to analyze thirteen ready-to-eat chicken samples. Endogenous PCV was detected in two of these samples, demonstrating the potential of the proposed method as a valuable tool for monitoring antiviral drug residues and ensuring food safety.