Comment on "Michael Addition Based Chemodosimeter for Serum Creatinine Detection Using (...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Computational Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• A chalcone-based fluorescence sensor for creatinine detection was recently reported by Sundaram et al.
• The sensor demonstrated clinical efficiency, but its proposed mechanism and interpretations raised concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically re-examine the mechanism and interpretations of the chalcone-based creatinine sensor.
• To clarify the nature of the reaction involved in the sensing process.
• To address inaccuracies in fluorescence quantum yield calculations.

Main Methods:

• Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were employed.
• Analysis of spectral data from the original study.
• Theoretical investigation of the reaction mechanism.

Main Results:

• DFT calculations and spectral data analysis indicate that the Michael addition is a ground-state reaction, not a photophysical interaction.
• Several other interpretations in the original study, including the Intramolecular Charge Transfer (ICT) mechanism, were re-evaluated and found to be misinterpretations.
• The procedure and formula for calculating fluorescence quantum yield in the original publication were deemed inappropriate.

Conclusions:

• The proposed photophysical mechanism for the chalcone-based creatinine sensor is incorrect.
• The reaction proceeds via a ground-state mechanism.
• Correct procedures for fluorescence quantum yield calculation are provided for future studies.