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Selective and Rapid Optical Detection of Citalopram Using a Fluorescent Probe Based on Carbon Quantum Dots Embedded in Silica Molecularly Imprinted Polymer

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Abstract

In this study, a citalopram optical nano-sensor was developed. Citalopram is a well-known antidepressant drug that reduces the reuptake of serotonin in neurons as a result, serotonin neurotransmission, the primary response to antidepressant treatments, increases in many parts of the brain. This study introduces a carbon quantum dots (CQDs)-based optical nanosensor for rapid detection of citalopram. This fluorescent nanosensor was made through the polymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of CQDs as the fluorescent materials and citalopram as the template molecule. Following the polymerization, the templated molecules were washed and removed from the structure, and the matrix of the polymer was left with some cavities that resembled citalopram in terms of size and shape. The final structure which is used as a chemical nanosensor, is named carbon quantum dots embedded silica molecularly imprinted polymer (CQDs-SMIP). The materials used in designing nano-sensors were characterized using FTIR, UV/Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). CQDs-SMIP showed a strong fluorescence emission at 420 nm in the absence of the template molecule. The fluorescence intensity of the nanosensor decreased in the presence of citalopram. The correlation between the extent of the fluorescence quenching and the concentration of citalopram provided the nano-sensor signal. The nano-sensor was used to measure citalopram in complex matrices such as human plasma and urine samples with remarkable selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limit of 10.3 µg.L-1 over a linear range of 100 to 700 µg.L-1, and RSD of 3.15% was obtained. This nano-sensor was applied to analyze of citalopram in plasma and human urine samples with remarkable results.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the University of Tehran for financially supporting this work.

Funding

The Research Council of the University of Tehran supported this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical Chemistry Department, School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Amiri, Farnoush Faridbod & Sheida Zoughi

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  1. Amir Amiri
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  2. Farnoush Faridbod
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  3. Sheida Zoughi
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Contributions

Amir Amiri and Sheida Zoughi did experimental tests. Amir Amiri and Farnoush Faridbod wrote the main manuscript text. Sheida Zoughi and Amir Amiri prepared all the figures. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Farnoush Faridbod.

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Amiri, A., Faridbod, F. & Zoughi, S. Selective and Rapid Optical Detection of Citalopram Using a Fluorescent Probe Based on Carbon Quantum Dots Embedded in Silica Molecularly Imprinted Polymer. J Fluoresc 34, 1171–1181 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03323-y

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