Bioinspired Carbon Dots-Based Fluorescent Sensor for the Selective Determination of a Potent Anti-Inflammatory Drug in the Presence of Its Photodegradation Products

Abstract

Herein, we synthesized biogenic carbon dots (CDs) with blue-shifted maximum excitation (λ_ex/λ_em of 320/404 nm) from largely wasted tangerine seeds for the first time via a one-step hydrothermal method. The biogenic CDs exhibit a maximum excitation wavelength that overlaps with the absorption spectrum of ketorolac tromethamine (KETO) at 320 nm. The developed CDs serve as a turn-off fluorescent probe via an inner filter effect (IFE) quenching mechanism. The resulting CDs have high quantum yield (QY) (39% ± 2.89%, <i>n</i> = 5) and exhibited great performance toward KETO over a concentration range of 0.50-16.00 μg/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) = 0.17 μg/mL. The nanoprobe achieved a high % recovery in assaying KETO in tablet dosage form and had not been significantly affected by various interferents including co-formulated and co-administered drugs. The nanoprobe shows selectivity toward KETO, even in the presence of its photocatalytic degradation products. It can effectively investigate the elimination of KETO from aquatic systems and test its stability in pharmaceutical preparations. The developed nanoprobe underwent a comprehensive evaluation of its environmental impact using analytical eco-scale (AES), complex green analytical procedure index (Complex GAPI), and the Analytical GREEnness calculator (AGREE). The sustainability of the developed nano sensor was assessed and compared to the reported metal-based quantum dots probe for KETO using the innovative RGB 12 model, considering 12 white analytical chemistry (WAC) perspectives.