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Fluorometric determination of morphine via its effect on the quenching of fluorescein by gold nanoparticles through a surface energy transfer process

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Abstract

A method is described for sensitive and selective fluorometric determination of morphine. It is based on the effect of morphine on quenching of the fluorescence of fluorescein by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via surface energy transfer. When fluorescein is added to solutions of colloidal AuNPs, its fluorescence becomes quenched due to nanometal surface energy transfer (NSET) because the absorption of AuNPs strongly overlaps the emission spectrum of fluorescein. In the presence of morphine, which contains both a tertiary nitrogen ring atom and a phenolic hydroxy group, it will coordinate to the AuNPs, and this causes recovery of fluorescence. The presence of a tertiary nitrogen ring atom and a phenolic hydroxy group (both required for the effect to occur) in morphine make the probe highly selective and sensitive for morphine. A paper strip assay also was developed by utilizing this detection scheme. The turn-on fluorescent probe was successfully applied to the determination of morphine in spiked serum and urine samples. The method has a 53 pM limit of detection. The paper strip was applied to the determination of morphine in sweat, urine and other biological fluids. It is perceived to be useful for early detection of drug abuse by adolescent.

Schematic of the mechanism of fluorescence turn on detection of morphine using Au NPs (gold nanoparticles) acting asquencher of the fluorescence of fluorescein.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Head, Department of Chemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram for pursuing the platform to conduct the research. The authors also thank the Director, SICC, University of Kerala, Kariavattom campus, Thiruvananthapuram; Director, SAIF-STIC-CUSAT, Kochi; DST-SAIF, M.G. University, Kottayam. The author N.J. acknowledge support for this work by University Grants Commission, Bangalore, India through the teacher fellowship (F.No.FIP/12th plan/KLMG035, TF: 03) under faculty development programme during XIIth plan period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Trivandrum, Kerala, 695581, India

    John Nebu, J. S. Anjali Devi, R. S. Aparna, B. Aswathy, A. O. Aswathy & George Sony

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  1. John Nebu
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Correspondence to George Sony.

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Nebu, J., Anjali Devi, J.S., Aparna, R.S. et al. Fluorometric determination of morphine via its effect on the quenching of fluorescein by gold nanoparticles through a surface energy transfer process. Microchim Acta 185, 532 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-018-3050-9

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