A silicon doped carbon dot-based fluorescent sensor for doxorubicin detection

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Doxorubicin (DOX) is a vital broad-spectrum anticancer agent used for various human tumors.
• Accurate monitoring of DOX levels is crucial for optimizing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing toxicity.
• Existing detection methods may lack the sensitivity or practicality for real-time clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, sensitive, and reliable fluorescence-based method for the quantitative analysis of doxorubicin (DOX).
• To utilize green-emitting silicon doped carbon dots (Si-CDs) as a fluorescent probe for DOX detection.
• To establish an assay with potential applications in the clinical monitoring of doxorubicin therapy.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of green-emitting silicon doped carbon dots (Si-CDs) via a solvent-thermal method.
• Utilizing the inner filter effect (IFE) for quenching Si-CDs fluorescence upon DOX addition.
• Establishing a quantitative fluorescence assay for DOX detection and validation in practical samples.

Main Results:

• The Si-CDs exhibited green fluorescence, which was effectively quenched by doxorubicin via the inner filter effect.
• A linear correlation was observed between fluorescence intensity and DOX concentration from 0.05 to 50 µM.
• The developed method achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 6 nM for DOX and demonstrated satisfactory recoveries in practical sample analysis.

Conclusions:

• A straightforward and effective fluorescence method for doxorubicin detection was successfully established using silicon doped carbon dots.
• The assay demonstrates high sensitivity, a wide linear range, and good recovery rates, making it suitable for practical applications.
• This Si-CDs-based fluorescence assay holds significant potential for the clinical monitoring of doxorubicin chemotherapy, aiding in personalized treatment strategies.