Investigating the performance of the fluorescent sensor g-C₃N₄/Fe/Cu in detecting the Tenofovir drug

Tenofovir is an antiviral drug that prevents the replication of AIDS and hepatitis B viruses. To minimize the harmful side effects of the drug on the body, it is essential to determine its precise concentration in the blood. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a cost-effective and highly sensitive method for detecting drugs like tenofovir. In this study, carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), a unique form of carbon known for its exceptional stability, high quantum efficiency and specific surface area, was used to create a C₃N₄/Fe/Cu sensor. The g-C₃N₄/Fe/Cu sensor was characterized using SEM, UV-VIS, PL, EDX, mapping and FT-IR methods. The influencing factors of C₃N₄/Fe/Cu response, such as pH, analyte concentration and temperature, were optimized during the experiments. Various concentrations of tenofovir were prepared in water and added to g-C₃N₄/Fe/Cu. The fluorescence intensity of the resulting solutions was analyzed using PL analysis at a wavelength of 463 nm under optimal conditions. The results confirmed the identification of tenofovir in pharmaceutical capsules within the concentration range of 5.0-700.0 µM using g-C₃N₄/Cu/Fe. A strong linear relationship with an R² = 0.9304 and a LOD = 3.2 µM (signal-to-noise = 3) was achieved. Therefore, g-C₃N₄/Fe/Cu is recommended for tenofovir drug assay.