Analysis of deferiprone in exhaled breath condensate using silver nanoparticle-enhanced terbium luminescence

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, metal nanoparticles with their specific properties have attracted particular attention due to their improved spectral characteristics. In this study, the effect of the interaction between AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) and the drug– terbium complexes in solution on luminescence intensity was studied, and a significant enhancement of terbium-sensitized luminescence on florescence intensity was observed in the presence of AgNPs. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a biological sample that can provide a direct assessment of pulmonary pathobiology, and its sampling procedure has been shown to be an alternative specimen for drug monitoring. Aim: Study of AgNPs effect on the fluorescence emission of terbium ion– Deferiprone (Tb3+–DFP) in EBC samples and validation of the proposed method under optimal conditions for analysis of DFP (Deferiprone) concentrations in the EBC samples obtained from the patients receiving DFP. Method: To reach the maximum fluorescence intensity, the effects of experimental parameters i.e. pH, buffer concentration, Tb3+(terbium ion) concentration, reaction time, temperature, and AgNP concentration will be investigated. After method optimazation and validation, DFP concentrations in the EBC samples will be measured. Results: Effects of various parameters such as AgNPs and Tb3+ concentrations, pH, and buffer concentration were studied. In the optimum condition, a calibration curve was obtained with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.999, and linearity in the concentration range of 0.04–1.50 mg L_1. The method was successfully applied for the quantification of DFP in EBC of 15 patients with very low concentrations of DFP (0.06–0.17 mg L_1). Discussion: In this study, a sensitive method based on AgNPs was developed for the quantification of DFP in EBC samples.