Fluorescent sensor based on solid-phase extraction with negligible depletion: A proof-of-concept study with amines as...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Biomedical Analysis

Background:

• Trace analysis of organic compounds and drugs is crucial for environmental monitoring and healthcare.
• Existing methods often involve complex procedures and high detection limits.
• Development of simple, sensitive, and cost-effective analytical techniques is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel, user-friendly trace analysis technique called F-SPE.
• To couple fluorescent sensing with solid phase extraction (SPE) for enhanced analyte detection.
• To demonstrate the technique's efficacy in detecting organic amines and amine-containing drugs at low concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Developed a two-step F-SPE methodology integrating a fluorophore-modified membrane with SPE.
• Utilized the principle of negligible depletion (ND) for simplified sample analysis.
• Employed a perylene diimide (PDI) fluorophore (C9/9-PDI) for sensing via donor-acceptor quenching mechanism.

Main Results:

• Achieved low limits of detection (LOD) for aniline (67 nM, ~6 ppb) and Kanamycin (32 nM, ~16 ppb).
• Demonstrated effective analyte concentration and sensitive detection through fluorescence quenching.
• Validated the F-SPE technique for analyzing organic amines and amine-containing drugs.

Conclusions:

• F-SPE offers a simplified and sensitive approach for trace analysis.
• The technique shows significant potential for low-level detection of target analytes.
• This method provides a valuable tool for various analytical applications requiring high sensitivity and ease of use.