A Facile Colorimetric Sensor for 6-Mercaptopurine Based on Silver Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) is a crucial thiopurine drug used in treating various cancers and autoimmune diseases.
• Accurate and sensitive detection of 6-MP is vital for therapeutic drug monitoring and ensuring patient safety.
• Existing detection methods can be complex, time-consuming, or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile and cost-effective colorimetric method for the quantitative detection of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP).
• To utilize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a sensitive probe for 6-MP detection.
• To establish a reliable analytical method with a low detection limit.

Main Methods:

• A colorimetric assay was developed based on the aggregation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) induced by 6-MP.
• The aggregation of AgNPs causes a visible color change from yellow to brown.
• Quantitative analysis was performed by measuring the ratio of absorbance at 394 nm and 530 nm (A394/A530).

Main Results:

• The addition of 6-MP to AgNPs resulted in a distinct color change, indicating aggregation.
• A linear relationship was observed between the absorbance ratio and 6-MP concentration in the range of 0–0.5 μM.
• The method achieved a low detection limit of 10 nM for 6-MP.

Conclusions:

• A simple, rapid, and cost-effective colorimetric method for 6-MP detection using AgNPs has been successfully developed.
• The method demonstrates high sensitivity and a wide linear range, making it suitable for quantitative analysis.
• This AgNP-based colorimetric assay offers a promising alternative for the detection of 6-MP in various settings.